An official from an air traffic regulator Tuesday vowed that the government will encourage private capital to build business jet airports, fixed base operators (FBOs) and other facilities to promote the development of the business jet industry in the world's second largest economy.

The promise came from Shi Boli, director of the traffic department of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), at a forum held during an ongoing business jet exhibition in Shanghai Tuesday.

According to Shi, there are still some barriers to business jet development such as tight flying schedules, outdated facilities, and staff shortages. Shi said the CAAC will plan business jet airports, encourage more private companies to pursue the management of business jet airports and FBOs, and simplify approval procedures. 

The Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition opened in Shanghai Tuesday, and attracted nearly 180 companies from home and abroad.

Seventy-five percent of exhibitors hail from overseas, such as Boeing with its BBJ plane, Airbus with its ACJ318 and Gulfstream with its G550.

Embraer, one of the world's largest aircraft manufacturers, announced Tuesday it had signed a sales contract with an anonymous client for the company's largest model, the Lineage1000.

Luo Jie, who is responsible for media relations with Embraer, told the Global Times Tuesday that the business jet, which can hold 19 people, is worth $50 million.

Qingdao Jiutian International Flight Academy, a flying school, also announced Tuesday that it had purchased a C90GTx from aircraft producer Beechcraft.

Airbus said Tuesday that it has nearly 20 business jet flying in China, and 170 in the Asia-Pacific region.

By the end of 2012, the number of business aviation companies had climbed to 15 in China, nine more than a year earlier, and 41 more business jet companies were approved in 2012, said Shi from the CAAC.

But Gao Yuanyang, a professor from Beihang University, told the Global Times that in addition to the lack of facilities, crowded airspace, which is mainly controlled by the military in China, is another barrier to the further development of the general aviation industry.