China built six new airports last year, bringing the total number to 166 as of last December, Wang Changshun, deputy director of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, said Wednesday.

The six new airports are Tuofeng Airport in Yunnan Province, Batang Airport in Qinghai Province, Lindu Airport and Saertu Airport in Heilongjiang Province as well as Shadi Airport in Guangdong Province.

The country's civil aviation industry invested roughly 60 billion yuan (US$8.82 billion) in fixed assets in 2009, said Wang.

"Increasing fixed-asset investment is a crucial measure to boost the industry during the financial crisis," Wang said.

Total floor space of China's civil airport terminals rose by 660,000 square meters last year.

Wang also said the fast development of China's tourist industry was spurring the civil aviation industry's expansion.

(Xinhua News Agency January 14, 2009)