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Russia and China to prepare for discussing cooperation in creation of wide-body plane

In the view of Rogozin, “Both China and Russia obviously need such a plane”

IRKUTSK, October 23 (Itar-Tass) - Russia and China would be ready to start the discussion of process issues and design work for the creation of a new civilian wide-body plane in 2014, Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin told reporters on Wednesday.

In the view of Rogozin, “Both China and Russia obviously need such a plane.” Russia needs a partner to ensure production profitability and manufacturing of large batches of the new aircraft, and China in this case is an optimal choice, as in addition to the large population size and several time zones, “it has similar ambitions.” “We also need their investments, in order not to make our taxpayers shoulder the burden of all the costs and risks,” the deputy prime minister explained.

He noted that the market of medium-haul aircraft today is practically lost for Russian manufacturers, because, according to Rogozin’s estimates, about 80 percent of air transportation is made on the Boeing and Airbus planes.