China makes new strides in developing advanced aircraft engines

China has achieved new progress in independent development of advanced aircraft engines, with three new models to undergo maiden flight and obtain production certification this year, said a chief engineer of Aero Engine Corporation of China on Wednesday.

In an interview with China Media Group (CMG) on the sidelines of the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) -- China's national legislature -- in Beijing, the chief engineer, Shan Xiaoming, disclosed that the three new models of aero engines to undergo maiden flight this year are the AES100, the AES20 and the AEP100.

Shan, who is a deputy to the NPC, made the statement in commenting on the government work report delivered to the annual legislative session which stipulates that China will promote high-level self-reliance in science and technology, and intensify the push for breakthroughs in core technologies in key fields and for research and development advancements in frontier and disruptive technologies.

The AES100 and the AES20 are advanced civil turboshaft engines independently developed by China. They are mainly used on civil helicopters deployed in multiple fields, including agriculture and forestry plant protection, air monitoring, and traffic supervision.

"The AES100 will be authorized a PC (production certification) this year, which will lay the groundwork for future mass production. We also have the AES20 engine with relatively low power, which will also undergo its maiden flight this year. So in the production of general aviation engines this year, we will have more spectacular developments which are worth looking forward to," Shan said.

An AEP100 engine that can be installed on drones with a takeoff weight of three to 10 tons will also undergo its first flight this year, and its overall performance has met the advanced technological levels of the same grade aero engines developed by other countries.

"The AEP100 will make its maiden flight with the 10.8-ton class of the world's largest unmanned aerial vehicle for logistics. The technological evolution is poised to lead to continuous change and development in aerodynamics. Besides traditional oil power, others like hybrid power, pure electric power and hydrogen energy are also in the process of development and verification," Shan said.

China makes new strides in developing advanced aircraft engines

Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed on Sunday morning that Russia and Ukraine resume direct negotiations in Istanbul, Türkiye, on Thursday, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responding that he would be in Türkiye awaiting President Putin for the talks.

During a press conference on Sunday, Putin proposed the resumption of direct negotiations between the two countries, emphasizing that the peace talks will be "without any preconditions."

In response, Zelensky wrote in a social media post that the proposal was a "positive sign", but added that he "expects Russia to confirm a ceasefire" starting from Monday that is "complete, lasting and credible" to provide the necessary basis for diplomatic efforts.

Ukraine is ready to start negotiations in any form, Zelensky said, adding that he will visit Türkiye before Thursday and expects to meet with President Putin.

Before his statement, Ukraine had announced that they were ready to start a 30-day unconditional ceasefire from Monday. As of Sunday night, Russia has not responded to the announcement yet.

Russia and Ukraine have long disagreed on whether a ceasefire should precede negotiations. On Sunday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Putin's stance was clear that talks must adhere to the form of "first negotiations about the root causes [of the conflict], then talk of ceasefire."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov echoed this view, stating that only serious negotiations could lead to lasting peace. On Sunday, he criticized Ukraine's insistence on a ceasefire before talks as an attempt to avoid negotiations.

In response to Putin's proposal, the Directorate of Communications of the Presidency of Türkiye released a statement on Sunday, saying that Turkish President Erdogan had a talk with President Putin over the phone. During the talk, Erdogan welcomed the proposal to resume peace talks, and said that "Türkiye stands ready to host the negotiations that will lead to a lasting solution," according to the statement.

"A window of opportunity to achieve peace has opened," and "a comprehensive ceasefire would create the necessary environment for peace talks," said the statement.

Putin proposes direct negotiation with Ukraine in Türkiye, Zelensky indicates readiness for talks