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Rogozin and Chinese Vice-Premier to discuss creation of joint jumbo jet

Russia’s old air transport force has been written off gradually and replaced by foreign-made airliners

VLADIVOSTOK, August 19 (Itar-Tass) - Vice-premier Dmitry Rogozin said his meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yang would focus on cooperation in the field of air transport, i.e. on the creation of a jumbo jet.

Speaking at a forum devoted to ways to protect Russia’s interests in the Far East, Rogozin said Russia could not live without its own air transport.

“I should state that Russia’s old air transport force has been written off gradually and replaced by foreign-made airliners. The aircraft, which is being produced by Russian designers, is not widely recognised by Russian airline companies,” the vice-premier said.

“Today it is very important to create an inter-regional plane,” Rogozin said, adding that there was a Superjet for average distances. We have no long-range jumbo jet.”

“There is an idea of creating such aircraft, which could seriously compete with Boeing and Airbus jointly with Chinese airline companies,” Rogozin said.

“It is necessary to win the internal market and make it profitable thanks to such strategic partner as China. Tomorrow I’ll meet Vice-premier Wang Yang in Harbin. The talks will centre on this issue as well,” the Russian vice-premier said.

Commenting on trade relations, he said Russia sought to expand them. “However, we want to change the structure of trade and economic relations. Instead of selling raw materials it is very important for us to create capacities for the industry in the Asia Pacific Region,” Rogozin said.

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