"As the first gathering of the world's airlines giants after the September 11 tragedy, the summit will discuss hot issues and the future development of the world aviation market," said Liu Shaoyong, president of China Eastern Airlines Co Ltd.

China Eastern is designated as a host airline of the summit, also called the 58th annual meeting of International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The summit is called "the Aviation Olympics" - the first to be held in China since IATA was founded in 1945.

Liu said more than 1,000 delegates are expected to attend the meeting, including chief executive officers from more than 200 airlines.

Officials from international civil aviation organizations, IATA and governments, and senior aircraft managers and engine manufacturers will also participate.

The summit takes "from survival to recovery" and "China's aviation market" as its two themes.

Delegates will discuss how to rebuild consumer confidence following the September 11 atrocity.

They will also consider issues such as airlines' safety guarantees and war responsibility insurance, which would be payable when a civil aircraft is accidentally downed when in a war-torn country's air space.

Other topics which will be discussed at the summit include:

New policies governments should make

Capabilities of airlines to prevent and withstand unexpected financial risks

China's future aviation market strategy after its entry to the World Trade Organization.

(China Daily May 25, 2002)