China's aero-engines roar on push from 2016-20 plan

China has made up its mind to boost the domestic aero-engine industry as a state-level major project, targeting to relieve the nation from its lasting pain in the "heart of plane" and economic pressures.

The country listed aero-engine and gas turbine manufacturing as a major state-level project in the draft 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) submitted to the national legislature.

"The aero-engine is the power plant of the aircraft and a powerful propeller for the country's domestic aviation industry," said Liu Daxiang, China's leading aero-engine expert and academic at the Chinese Academy of Engineering.