Chinese firms join in S Africa's defense show

JOHANNESBURG - The Chinese arms trade delegation on Wednesday joined Africa Aerospace and Defense 2012 Exhibition in South Africa.

The event started at the Waterkoof Air Force Base on the southern outskirts of the administrative capital of Pretoria on Wednesday.

The base is the busiest one in the South African Air Force with its official opening in 1938.

An officer in the base told Xinhua it was the first time for the base to host the large-scale defense show.

"It is the Africa's biggest air and defense show with nearly 100 civil and military static aircraft from dozens of countries across the world, including the planes from the US Germany, India and Brazil," Shumba, one of the organizers of the event, told Xinhua.

The Chinese delegation headed by the State Administration for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense in China (SASTIND) consists of six major arms trading companies.

They include China National Precision Machinery Import & Export Corporation (CPMIEC), China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC) ,China Shipbuilding Trading Co., Ltd. (CSTC), China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) and Poly Technologies Inc.

The enterprises present a comprehensive introduction of China's capability in the defense industry, such as missile, aircraft, warship, artillery, radar and satellite communication system.

One of ground crew served in the base told Xinhua that compared with some other countries' exhibitors, China's equipment is excellent in quality.

To attract international customers, the global passenger plane making giants Boeing and Airbus demonstrated their latest types.

More than 100 high-ranking military officials from around the world have been reportedly invited to attend the event, including air force chiefs and defense ministers.

Shumba told Xinhua that it is the seventh Africa aerospace and defense show hosted by South Africa to provide the global aerospace and defense industries with an opportunity to promote their products and services, with special focus on the African continent.

The five-day event will conclude on Sunday with an expectation of more than 200,000 visitors around the world.