Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao says China should unswervingly adhere to self-innovation in research and development of large aircraft.

Wen made the remarks on Sunday when the country's first ever jumbo passenger aircraft company, a major part of the nation's large jet program, was officially inaugurated in Shanghai on Sunday.

Wen said China should by all means conduct overall design and final assembly of large aircraft by itself. The research and production of engines, airborne equipment and material will also demand independent effort.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the company, Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang said the large jet program is significant to improve China's independent innovation capabilities and to meet the rapidly expanding civil aviation market at home.

"The company should stick to independent innovation and adopt new technologies and new materials to meet jumbo aircraft's demand of its security, reliability, coziness and environmental friendliness."

The newly established company, named Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Ltd., or CACC, will be responsible for researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing the homegrown large passenger aircraft.

The CACC has a registered capital of 19 billion Yuan or 2.7 billion U.S. dollars. The State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission alone invested 6 billion Yuan, becoming the biggest shareholder.

According to its plan, China hopes to have its first self-made jumbo aircraft before 2020.