PLA Navy's first group of female carrier aircraft pilot trainees debut at Airshow China

The first group of female pilot trainees from the carrier-based aircraft of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy are making their first public appearance at the ongoing 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, also known as Airshow China, in the southern coast city of Zhuhai.

At the Navy's indoor exhibition hall, a dedicated zone has been set up for naval aviator recruitment. Han Meng and Wang Mengdi, the first female carrier-based aircraft pilot trainees of the PLA Navy, are on hand to explain the recruitment policies and assist visitors in experiencing flight simulators.

It marks the first time that Airshow China has brought together female pilots from Chinese army, navy and air forces.

"This is my first time attending Airshow China, and I'm very thrilled and proud to be here and to see the PLA Navy unveiling so many new equipment as well as cutting-edge aircraft. As a naval carrier-based pilot trainee, I hope to fly these fighter jets one day in the future to safeguard our nation's vast territorial waters," said Han.

The PLA Navy's first female pilot trainees were enrolled in 2023. All of them are recent graduates from military and civilian universities, born in the 2000s.

"Becoming a naval pilot means we must land on aircraft carriers. We live and work on the carrier, and therefore we are first sailors, then pilots, and finally combatants," said Wang.

The first group of female carrier-based pilot trainees had passed their solo flight tests on basic trainer aircraft by the end of April 2024. They are currently undergoing flight training exercises on carrier-based helicopters.

Airshow China kicked off on Tuesday in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, showcasing an impressive lineup of cutting-edge military hardware while offering a glimpse into the latest achievements in the modernization of the Chinese military. The event will last through Sunday.

PLA Navy's first group of female carrier aircraft pilot trainees debut at Airshow China

PLA Navy's first group of female carrier aircraft pilot trainees debut at Airshow China

China's outstanding aggregate social financing -- the total amount of financing to the real economy -- reached 442.12 trillion yuan (about 63.4 trillion U.S. dollars) as of the end of 2025, up 8.3 percent year on year, central bank data showed on Thursday.

The country's aggregate social financing stood at 35.6 trillion yuan (about 5.1 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2025, up by 3.34 trillion yuan (about 479 billion U.S. dollars) from the year 2024, said the People's Bank of China (PBOC), the country's central bank.

According to the data, the M2, a broad measure of money supply that covers cash in circulation and all deposits, increased 8.5 percent year on year to 340.29 trillion yuan (about 48.8 trillion U.S. dollars) as of the end of December.

In addition, outstanding yuan loans stood at 271.91 trillion yuan (about 39 trillion U.S. dollars) at the end of 2025, up 6.4 percent year on year.

China's aggregate social financing maintains high growth in 2025