Harmonious Skies

The Chinese government announced this week that it would hold an international military air forum dubbed "Harmonious Skies" next month to coincide with an air show to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the country's air force.

According to the government news agency Xinhua:

This year marks the 60th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China, its naval forces on April 23, and its air force on Nov. 11.

An international military forum themed "harmonious skies" will also be held in Beijing in November. More than 300 senior air force officers from China and more than 30 other countries are expected to attend the forum to mark ((People's Liberation Army)) air force's 60th founding anniversary, He ((Weirong, deputy commander of the PLA air force)) said.

"The forum is aimed to build a platform for air forces of different countries to enhance mutual understanding and exchanges, to discuss how to maintain safety in the skies, and to know about China and its PLA air force better," He said.

As for the air show, the country plans to showcase its Kongjing-2000 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEWC) aircraft, J-11 fighters, H-6 bomber jets, and HQ-9 surface-to-air missiles, according to Xinhua.