The General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) and US Trade and Development Agency (TDA) signed in Beijing Tuesday the Memorandum of Understanding on aviation cooperation program.

According to the MOU, the TDA will coordinate US aviation enterprises to provide aid to China-US aviation cooperation projects, which will be used in personnel training of flight standard supervisors, accident investigators and air traffic control specialists.

CAAC director Yang Yuanyuan said China's civil aviation industry should learn from its American counterparts. The signing of the MOU is a good chance for both sides, which will be beneficial to exchanges.

TDA director Thelma J. Askey said the TDA hoped to establish long-term mutual beneficial cooperative relations with the CAAC, in order to choose the best solution for China's civil aviation construction.

The signing of the MOU is one of the achievements of US Administrator of Federal Aviation Administration Marion C. Blakey who paid a visit in Beijing in February. She and Yang Yuanyuan signed an agreement on further strengthening aviation cooperation.

(Xinhua News Agency April 7, 2004)