China-made planes shine at Singapore Airshow

Aircraft produced by Chinese manufacturers are standing out at the ongoing 10th Singapore Airshow, from the country's homegrown airliners to a growing range of small planes.

Running from Tuesday to Sunday, the event has attracted more than 1,000 companies from over 50 countries and regions, according to the organizers.

This year's flying display program features eight participants, including air force teams from six countries -- China, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, India and Indonesia -- as well as commercial aircraft manufacturers the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) and Airbus.

COMAC arranged a solo flying display of its narrow-body C919 airliner, which previously appeared at the Singapore Airshow in February 2024.

The airshow also includes a static exhibition of more than 35 aircraft, covering commercial, business, military and unmanned platforms from leading manufacturers and operators. COMAC is showcasing both the C919 and the C909.

Many Chinese aircraft manufacturers have used the event to draw the attention of potential buyers from around the world.

"From this morning till now, we've received many clients from Southeast Asia, the Middle East and even Africa," said Wei Yachuan, deputy general manager of Aerospace Times Feipeng Technology Co., Ltd, a producer of small airplanes and drones, as well as advanced aviation control systems.

The sustained efforts of Chinese producers to strengthen their presence have earned recognition from the event organizers.

"I think there's a growing interest -- China to promote their products, their latest technologies. We also see an increase in participation from China, even from the SMEs coming in. So I think that's a very positive development and I think that ties in with what the Singapore Air Show offers," said Leck Chet Lam, head of Singapore Airshow's organizing committee.

China-made planes shine at Singapore Airshow

A search and rescue operation came to a close Thursday for a cargo ship fire at a shipyard in Qingdao City of east China's Shandong Province, after all the 25 individuals initially reported to be missing were located and confirmed dead.

The fire broke out at around 11:15 when the ship was undergoing maintenance at China State Shipbuilding Corporation Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., according to the municipal fire and rescue bureau.

A total of 42 people were aboard the ship. Twelve were safely evacuated, and five injured individuals were taken to the hospital, where they are in stable condition.

The blaze was extinguished at around 14:30.

Emergency management, fire and rescue, police, and medical departments were immediately mobilized to carry out search and rescue operations following the accident.

"Inside the cabin, it was extremely hot, and very slippery because the hot steam had melted all the old and accumulated grease and grime," said Hao Xiang, a firefighter.

In the burn unit of Qingdao West Coast New Area Central Hospital, two injured patients are receiving treatment. They sustained minor burns to the face and upper limbs and are in stable condition, according to an attending doctor.

"Upon admission of the patients injured in the accident, we immediately conducted a comprehensive checkup on them and identified their injury to be a mild burn. We provided them with burn dressing changes, antibiotics to prevent infection, and rapid fluid replacement, among other treatments," said Wang Guangjun, director of the Department of Hepatobiliary, Thyroid and Breast Burn Surgery under the Qingdao West Coast New Area Central Hospital.

The cause of the accident is now under investigation.

Rescue concludes after 25 confirmed dead in cargo ship fire in east China