China has begun construction of an 80,000-ton press forge for manufacturing large planes in Deyang, Southwest China's Sichuan Province.

With an investment of 1.517 billion yuan ($204.7 million), the project won the approval of the National Development and Reform Commission. It is expected to be the world's largest when finished in two and half years, Zeng Xiangdong, project director and vice general manager of China National Erzhong Group Co, said on Friday.

A large die-hydraulic press forge is one of the key pieces of equipment for manufacturing jumbo planes - a longtime national dream. Only a few countries, including the United States, Russia and France, have such facilities, Zeng said.

The largest press forge is 75,000 tons and is owned by Russia. All of China's press forges are less than 40,000 tons and are unfit for making key parts of very large planes, which has hindered the country's development of aviation, equipment and manufacturing industries.

Chen Xiaoci, vice director of the press forge project, said the machine was designed by China National Erzhong Group and would be built in the company's compound.

The company has produced more than 400,000 die-forges during the past three decades.

(Xinhua News Agency December 8, 2007)