Chinese Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan on Wednesday called for more progress in the country's research and development of jumbo aircraft.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan on Wednesday called for more progress in the country's research and development of jumbo aircraft.

    The project to build jumbo jets would help China boost economic development, meet rising demand for air travel, make a great advancement in science and technology and strengthen national defense, he said.

    Zeng made the remarks during a discussion with a group of aeronautical experts at the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

    To build up an internationally competitive aeronautic industry, China should rely on independent innovation, train its own professionals and take in cutting-edge technology and products from foreign countries, he said.

    A jumbo aircraft is an air-freighter with a take-off weight of more than 100 tons or an airliner with more than 150 seats.

    Liu Daxiang, an expert with the China Aviation Industry Corporation I, the country's leading aircraft maker, said earlier this year that the country will be capable of making jumbo jets by 2020.

    Currently, only the United States, Russia, France, Germany, Britain and Spain have the ability to build jumbo aircraft, with Boeing and Airbus taking a lion's share of the international market.