China to have more aircraft carriers: Official

The Liaoning, commissioned last year, is the Chinese military's first aircraft carrier, but there will surely be more in future, a spokesman of the ministry of national defence said Thursday.

China will comprehensively consider the development of aircraft carriers in accordance with the needs of national defence and military building, Xinhua quoted spokesman Yang Yujun as saying.

Yang made the comment at a news briefing when asked to confirm media reports that China was producing its first domestically made aircraft carrier.

Currently, China operates one aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, which was refitted based on an unfinished Russian-made carrier and delivered to the Chinese Navy Sep 25, 2012.

The carrier's original design allows it to carry about 30 fixed-wing aircraft.

The Liaoning has conducted successful take-off and landing tests of its carrier-borne J-15 fighters, the main strike force of China's carrier group.