BEIJING — China has 32 civil airports with annual passenger throughput reaching the 10-million level, the China Civil Airports Association said Sept 3.

“The civil aviation industry is a critical field to observe and value a country’s economical movement. It plays an important role in boosting China’s economic and social development,” said Li Xiaomei, secretary general of the association.

Li made the remarks at a press conference for the upcoming 2018 China Airport Development Conference and Exhibition, which will be held from Sept 12 to 13 in Changsha, in Central China’s Hunan province.

The event will be jointly held by the association, Changsha Municipal Government, and International Air Transport Association (IATA) and will highlight the latest technology in airport safety, operational control, security and intelligent information.

As of June, China had 232 airports for civil aviation use.

“Alongside China’s reform and opening-up, the civil airports have made great progress in their management, planning layout, safety, as well as their size,” said Li.

“Both new technology and innovative management contribute to this progress, creating huge market value and opportunities at home and abroad,” said Li.

In 2017, China’s civil aviation industry saw air passenger volume reach 552 million, a 13-percent increase year-on-year.

IATA has forecast China will surpass the United States as the world’s largest civil aviation market by 2022.