The blue skies prevailing over the opening of the 2018 edition of ABACE remained a theme during Tuesday’s Opening General Session with several of the speakers likening the sunny weather to an optimistic outlook for the industry and promise of growth. The government leaders who spoke at the session also reinforced their commitment to help foster the industry.

“The clear day brings a good mood [to ABACE],” said Jiang Huai Yu, deputy party secretary and director general of the Eastern Regional Headquarters for the Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC). Noting the thousands of visitors that attend ABACE, Jiang added that the event has become “China’s best window for business aviation.”

The industry’s growth rate in China is still attracting significant attention, he said. The CAAC has been working to address issues such as the pilot population and working to ease restrictions to help in the development of the industry. Further, he highlighted efforts to develop infrastructure to help support the industry, including a drive to build airports.

China last year added five general aviation airports–it has hundreds more planned–56 general aviation enterprises, and 2,272 general aviation aircraft, according to NBAA. General aviation flight hours, meanwhile, have reached 735,000.

Jiang pointed to the significance of the industry in the eastern region, which is home to more than a third of the business aviation fleet in China and 1,300 business aviation professionals. In addition operations jumped by almost 40 percent from 2016 to 2017 in the region.

“Business aviation is enjoying fast growth,” he said, adding that under the leadership of China, the CAAC is dedicated to the positive development of the industry.

This commitment is equally strong in Shanghai, which views business aviation as an integral part of long-range economic development plans, according to Cai Jun, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission.

The economic development plan, which runs through 2035, places a priority on making Shanghai an economic development hub and a center for aviation activity not only in China, but throughout the region. This will require the build up of facilities and leveraging of a free trade zone to attract businesses.

Wu Jianrong, chairman of the Shanghai Airport Authority (SAA), echoed those sentiments, and added that SAA is focused on facilitating the growth of maintenance and services not only at Hongqiao, but at Pudong airport as well. He pointed to progress already made, including the new Shanghai Hawker Pacific hangar, and said this kind of progress will continue and business aviation in Shanghai will see a “brighter future.”

The general session also brought reaffirmations from the consul generals in Shanghai from France, Canada, and the U.S. to continued collaboration between their countries and China to foster growth. “We are aware that one tree cannot become a forest,” Sean Stein, consul general for the U.S., said, citing the need for mutual cooperation. French consul Axel Cruau traced the long history between France and China, and the expansion of business being made by French companies in China. Weldon Epp, consul general of Canada, expressed similar sentiments and noted the increasingly important role ABACE is taking for the industry in China.

Also speaking was John Bruns, co-chair of the U.S.-China Aviation Cooperation Program, who gave a progress update on the private-public partnership aimed at expanding the industry. Bruns cited development of general and business aviation as one of the four priorities for the partnership (Other priorities being safety/security, air traffic management, and professionalism).

Wang Jiji, Shanghai Airport Authority vice president, served as the moderator of the panel, pointing to the references made to the weather and echoing the thoughts of the panel on its reflection on the industry.

NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen, who also spoke on the panel, later said he was encouraged by the speeches, reflecting support for the industry from every level of government represented.