WASHINGTON, March 19 (Xinhua) -- A senior Boeing official said on Monday that the U.S. aviation giant welcomed a China's plan to design and build large airplanes.

"We always anticipate potential competitors," said Mike Bair, head of Boeing's 787 "Dreamliner" program. "I don't think it's a surprise to anybody that a country as large as China might have ambitions like that."

He said what Boeing has to do "is to constantly improve what we're doing" and keep up with customer demand.

The Chinese government approved in principle the plan a month ago to develop the new aircraft that can carry more than 150 passengers.

China has already built its own regional jet. The ARJ, which will carry 78 to 105 passengers, is scheduled to have its maiden flight in March 2008. Seventy orders for the ARJ have already been placed.