China steps up competition with first international flight of homegrown aircraft

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, a sign which reads "1st C919 inaugural flight" is seen in front of the Chinese made passenger aircraft prepared for its first commercial flight from Shanghai on Sunday, May 28, 2023. China's first domestically made passenger jet flew its maiden commercial flight on Sunday, as China looks to compete with companies such as Boeing and Airbus in the global aircraft market.(Ding Ting/Xinhua via AP) AP - Ding Ting

China's domestically produced passenger jet, the C919, made its debut outside the mainland on Wednesday in Hong Kong. The flight is a step for China towards competing with international aircraft manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus.

The C919, which made its maiden commercial flight in May, is key to Beijing's decades-long goal to compete with European and US air rivals and reduce China's reliance on foreign technology.