The annual Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (ABACE) 2019 officially opened this morning, with the Shanghai Airport Authority (SAA) urging participants to network and benchmark themselves to international standards as aviation in Shanghai, as well as the rest of China, grows.

“In China, our business aviation movements are only one-twentieth of those in the U.S. and a quarter that of Europe, so there is plenty of growth opportunities,” said SAA president Qin Yun. “We are now increasing the Shanghai service branding and infrastructure in Pudong. These, along with our Shanghai aviation free trade zone, will drive the trade and training of the sector. I urge you to network with the participants here and benchmark against the best international standards to make Shanghai a business aviation hub.”

Speaking in Mandarin, U.S. consul general to Shanghai Sean Stein said there are 14 U.S. companies exhibiting at ABACE this year. He encouraged visitors to stop by their booths and stressed that the U.S. will continue to support China’s aviation growth and "work together as partners to a higher level."