China delivered Friday two domestically manufactured Xinzhou-60 passenger planes to Laos and the Republic of Congo, the first sale of this aircraft to the two countries.

The delivery ceremony was held in Yanliang Aircraft Town, about 70 kilometers north of Xi'an, home to the Xi'an Aircraft Company.

Andre Okombi Salissa, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation of the Republic of Congo, Somphone Douangdara, president of Laos Airlines, and Meng Xiangkai, vice-president of Xi'an Aircraft, signed the delivery documents in the town.

Developed and manufactured by Xi'an Aircraft, a subsidiary of China Aviation Industry Corporation, the Xinzhou-60 is a turboprop aircraft that can carry 50 to 60 passengers. It sells for about 100 million yuan (US$12.5 million).

The plane meets international safety, comfort, and ease of maintenance standards, and costs 10 to 20 percent less than similar types of aircraft, according to experts.

Air Zimbabwe signed a purchase deal with Xi'an Aircraft in November 2004, becoming the first foreign customer for the plane.

Zimbabwe has so far bought three Xinzhou-60 aircraft.

By the end of the year, a total of 11 planes will have been delivered to six countries in Southeast Asia and Africa, according to the company.

The company has so far signed purchase deals involving 32 Xinzhou-60 planes with eight countries worldwide, said the company.

(Xinhua News Agency July 29, 2006)