"In the next decade or so China will be able to catch up with advanced nations in civil aviation in terms of strength, quality, capability and competitiveness," said Yang Yuanyuan, minister of CAAC.

The minister made the remarks when delivering an inaugural lecture at the World Civil Chief Executives Forum, organized by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore and attended by more than 60 delegates from 47 countries and regions.

Yang said China's civil aviation has maintained an average annual growth rate of 17.4 percent, 16 percent and 15.3 percent in the air traffic turnover, air passenger traffic volume and the air cargo & mail traffic from 1989 to 2001.

And the country's air transport volume is expected to reach 30 billion ton kilometers in 2010 with passenger and cargo & mail traffic being 140 million people and 4.7 million tons respectively, the minister said.

Highlighting future reform and opening up of China's civil aviation industry, Yang said the efforts are aimed at building good aviation administrative and market systems, supporting companies' internal integration and proceeding with the airports' localization reform. They also seek to enhance levels of science, technology and education as well as security and safety regulations.

The minister pointed out global civil aviation is currently suffering from turbulent times and the world aviation community should strengthen cooperation and take collective actions in dealing with the severe challenges it faces.

Under the auspices of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and with the formulation and implementation of wider and deeper projects, adequate forces could be amassed to overcome the current difficulties, the Chinese minister said. Yang cited programs for security and safety, security audits and aviation war risk insurance mechanism adopted by ICAO last year.

ICAO Council President Assad Kotaite gave a key-note speech at the opening of the forum.

(Xinhua News Agency February 7, 2003)