BEIJING - President Xi Jinping on Sunday called for acceleration in independent research, development and manufacturing of aircraft engines and gas turbines, to make China a power in aviation industry.

His words came on the heels of the establishment of the Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC) Sunday in Beijing.

The establishment of the firm is a strategic move that will be conducive to enhancing the national power as well as the capacity of the armed forces, Xi said in a written instruction.