A report on China's Soho blog claimed that because of Russia's reluctance to sell it advanced aircraft, China has concluded a US$ 4 billion agreement with Ukraine for the world's largest cargo plane. According to the report, Ukraine and China reached an agreement to co-produce the world's largest security (-225) transport aircraft. The first stage involves Chinese investment. The second phase will be licence production of the Antonov -225 transport aircraft in China. The first of these aircraft over which China will reportedly have propriety rights will come off the assembly line in 2019. There are additional plans to collaborate on  a -178 'security' military transport project of which China plans to purchase 25 'security' transport aircraft. The report added that Russia has been concerned that cooperation between China and Ukraine will enable China to reduce dependence on Russia in the field of aviation.

Meanwhile, PLA Air Force Commander Ma Xiaotian said to more than 1100 students at a new Air Force Aviation University, that the PLAAF has entered the transition phase in building a strong offensive and defensive air force. He was quoted as saying "In the future there will be a greater increase, We are now developing a new generation of long-range bombers." 

(Comment: The Xian Y-20 large military transport aircraft officially entered the PLAAF in July 2016.)