The program includes expert speakers on air cargo and related industry issues from China, the United States and Europe. The symposium that brings them together is sponsored by McDonnell Douglas (NYSE: MD), manufacturer of commercial jet transports used around the world in both cargo and passenger operations.

Attendees representing 25 airline operators, other industry executives and the news media will take part in the conference to explore the dynamics and market requirements for air freight in the years ahead.

Gen. John L. Fugh, president of McDonnell Douglas-China, and Edward C. Bavaria, deputy president of the Douglas Aircraft division of McDonnell Douglas in Long Beach, Calif., are hosts for the meeting at the Kempinski Hotel.

Bavaria will be the featured luncheon speaker.

Vice Minister Shen Yuankang of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) will welcome the attendees to the symposium and deliver opening remarks.

Liu Dong Sheng, director of management and transportation for China Eastern Airlines, will speak on the business, technical and management issues involved in developing an air cargo operation. China Eastern has built its cargo service successfully, flying a McDonnell Douglas MD-11F freighter on international routes for more than five years.

"There is tremendous industrial growth coming throughout Asia, and it will bring a huge demand for increased air freight services," General Fugh said. "This air cargo conference is planned to help airlines and others prepare for the significant new business opportunities and requirements we can see ahead. We are especially pleased to hold such an important forum here in Beijing."

The agenda for the meeting features speakers from CAAC and from MergeGlobal, a leading aviation consulting firm, who will provide assessments of the future market for air freight in China and other Asian countries.

Wang Song Bai, cargo manager in Beijing for the International Air Transport Association, will present a review of recent events that will influence the evolution of global air cargo operations for years to come.

Service experience with the McDonnell Douglas MD-11F will be related by John Quinn, vice president-China & Mid Pacific Region for Federal Express Corp. With 23 MD-11Fs, FedEx has the world's largest MD-11 fleet as the cornerstone of its global expansion of its package delivery services.

Christian Sedelmaier, regional managing director for Germany's Lufthansa Cargo, and Hubertus von Albedyll, director of projects for Lufthansa Consulting, will discuss Lufthansa's air freight experience and the infrastructure required for cargo handling. Lufthansa Cargo has ordered five MD-11Fs.

Other speakers are Christian Bruderer, manager of planning for SR Technics, the aircraft maintenance arm of Swissair; a cargo marketing executive for World Airways; and McDonnell Douglas executives Terry McGaughan, Wade Cornelius and Jack Jewell.

The conference also will feature workshop sessions in which the attendees will have the opportunity to meet individually or in small groups with the various speakers for more detailed discussions of particular issues.