HUANGSHAN, June 20. /TASS/. Russia has informed China about the beginning of the development of a heavy aircraft engine with a thrust of 35 tons for the Sino-Russian long-range wide-body aircraft. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin told reporters on Monday after a meeting of the Russian-Chinese intergovernmental commission on the preparation of regular meetings of the heads of government that this is the key point of the project for the development of a joint airliner.

"In addition, we informed the Chinese side of the beginning of the work on Russia’s heavy aircraft engine in the thrust segment up to 35 tons, the decision on creating which was made by the Russian president recently - in May, and the necessary funds were allocated", he said. "This almost solves the problem associated with the creation of a long-range wide-body aircraft, because the plane is impossible without an engine", Rogozin added.

"There should be two engines, and not four, as now. Neither the Soviet Union nor Russia have thus far developed such a powerful engine. They are manufactured only by General Electric and Rolls-Royce yet," the deputy prime minister said. "Now this kind of engine will be developed also for this Russian-Chinese joint project", he added.

According to him, the parties have agreed that Russian and Chinese aviation companies would first of all determine the operational life of the aircraft currently used on the leading air routes.