China Aviation Industry Corporation II (AVIC II) announced on
Wednesday that it will invest more than three billion yuan (about
US$384 million) to develop and produce civilian helicopters.
AVIC II, China's only state-run manufacturer of helicopters, has
set a target of becoming one of the world's leading helicopter
suppliers in the next 12 years.
"To realize the target, AVIC II will increase international
cooperation in research, manufacturing, marketing and after-sale
services to meet customers' needs around the world," general
manager Zhang Hongbiao said.
Technical cooperation with the Eurocopter Group, AugustaWestland
and Hewlett-Packard Canada will enable AVIC II to produce
helicopters with its own design, AVIC II says.
(Xinhua News Agency September 20, 2007)
