In the meantime, regional aircraft account for just 12 percent of China's airplane fleet, and many large jets are flying regional routes, laying the market foundation for the MA series.

The MA600 would enter the market in the second half of 2009 and reach an annual capacity of 10 to 15 between 2010 and 2012, Chen said, adding that the new model would become a flagship product of China's civil-aviation industry with a demand for more than 300 worldwide in the next decade.

More importantly, China is expected to be able to deliver its own turboprop regional jet series of MA60, MA600, MA700 catered to different users in five years.

The research and development of the 70-seat Modern Ark 700 (MA700), which aims at markets in developed countries and would be designed to meet demand for the next 20 years, is underway, said Chen.

According to Chen, the MA700 would expand sales in Europe and North America and it would prove competitive on the global market with the most advanced turboprops from Italian-French firm ATR and Canada's Bombardier Inc.