The vast western region taking up 70 percent of China's territory will no longer seem so distant as more airlines will extend their operations there, a senior aviation official said Thursday.

Yang Guoqing, deputy director of the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China, said that in the next five years, the throughput of passengers and freight is expected to grow at an annual rate of eight and 12 percent, respectively.

This means more than 70 airplanes, including 30 flying trunk lines, will be added, Yang said at the China Western Forum which just concluded in Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province in northwest China.

Airplanes have more advantages in the vast and sparsely populated area with varying land forms over automobiles and trains. There is great potential for the development of the aviation industry in the western region, Yang said.

In five years, airports in the west undergo reconstruction, with those in the cities of Chengdu, Xi'an, Kunming and Urumqi turned into regional hubs, he said, adding that 28 new airports will be built.

Observers say the potential market will attract airlines and airplane makers both from China and overseas. In fact, Boeing and Airbus have sent their new models on trial flights to Xinjiang and Tibet, and have invited officials, business people and reporters to be passengers.

Tibet has announced an ambitious plan to build an "air corridors" between major cities in the autonomous region.

(Xinhua News Agency 09/06/2001)