China began construction of its research and development center for large aircraft on Monday in the eastern business hub of Shanghai.

The center in the southern section of the Zhangjiang Hi-tech Park covers an area of 80 hectares and its first phase construction will be completed and put into use at the end of 2011, according to Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Ltd. (COMAC).

The company did not disclose the investment for the center when asked by Xinhua.

The center is one of the COMAC's three key entities which are responsible for aircraft design, manufacturing and service.

COMAC was officially inaugurated in May last year with a registered capital of 19 billion yuan (US$2.78 billion). This was to make the country capable of building aircraft with a take-off weight of more than 100 tonnes, or planes with more than 150 seats.

(Xinhua News Agency July 7, 2009)