China's aviation industry celebrates its 60th anniversary on Sunday. From humble beginnings, the country has gone from imitating foreign technology to being a world-leader in innovation.

This is the engine of China's C-919 passenger jet.

The 200-seat airliner will begin trial flights in 2014.

But the plane's engines are already the focus of worldwide attention.

Wang Zhilin, General Manager of Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China, said, "We plan to make key technic breakthroughs by 2016. The C-919 will make its commercial debut by 2020."

Only 17 planes captured from the Kuomintang were on show on the day when the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949.

Sixty years later during the PRC's anniversary parade, 12 squadrons with 151 airplanes took to the skies.

All were domestically designed and manufactured.

Among them was the J-10 fighter jet.

Capable of all-weather day/night operation, it represents decades of efforts.

Dao Chuan, J-10 Chief Designer, said, "I will never forget the heart-stirring moment when the J-10 fighter jet completed its first trial fly. We all cried at that time."

China has designed and manufactured various commercial and military aircraft during the past 60 years, including fighters, bombers and air tankers.

Passenger airliner Xinzhou-60 is used today for many domestic and international routes.

Lin Zuoming, General Manager of Aviation Industry Corp. of China, said, "China's transport aviation industry will develop rapidly in the next five to ten years. It will continue to play an increasingly important role in the global aviation industry."

With more Chinese aircraft ordered by international companies, many believe the future of China's aviation industry will continue to a bright horizon.

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