Newly merged China Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC) plans to acquire a foreign general aviation aircraft manufacturer to strengthen its development capabilities, a senior company executive said on Nov. 3.

An acquisition agreement is expected to be signed by the end of this year to that effect, said Tan Weidong, president of AVIC General Aviation Co Ltd. Tan did not reveal the name of the foreign company.

AVIC is also planning to list its general aviation businesses in the near future, Tan added.

Tan made the remarks on the sidelines of the China International Aviation & Aerospace Forum 2008, on the eve of the Zhuhai Airshow (also known as Airshow China 2008).

AVIC General Aviation, Tan said, also plans to develop 10-, 20- and 30-seat business jets, as well as turbo-prop hydroplanes in the near future.

AVIC was launched at the end of last month with the merging of China's two leading state-owned aviation manufacturers, AVIC I and AVIC II, amid government endeavors to consolidate and strengthen the country's aviation manufacturing capabilities.

The new firm acts as a parent company, under which six new firms specializing in different businesses were set up to manage AVIC I and AVIC II's various firms and subsidiaries across the country.

The six companies are involved in transporters, airplane engines, helicopters, general aviation, airborne systems and aviation imports and exports.

AVIC General Aviation, leading the development of general aviation airplanes in AVIC, mainly manages two companies: China National Guizhou Aviation Industry (Group) Co Ltd under AVIC I, and Shijiazhuang Aircraft Industry Co Ltd under AVIC II.

The former, based in Guizhou province, mainly produces trainers and unmanned aerial vehicles. The latter is located in Hebei province and manufactures light aircraft.

Zhuhai will become the company's general aviation base for research and development, final assembly and test flights, Tan said.