Beihang University will cooperate with the National Civil Aviation University of France to build an aeronautical university in Zhejiang province.

The ground-breaking ceremony was held in Pingyao town, Yuhang district, Hangzhou and was attended by more than 600 representatives from local government and Beihang University.

The two schools signed a memorandum of understanding in Beijing on Jan 9, 2018. On April 16 this year, the Hangzhou government, education department of Zhejiang, and Beihang University signed a cooperation framework agreement to build the Sino-French university into a world-class school of higher education with Chinese characteristics.

The school will cover 100 hectares in Pingyao town. Construction of the campus is expected to finish in 2022.

The project is part of efforts by local authorities to cultivate more talents to aid in the development of aerospace technology and boost China's aviation industry.

The Beihang Hangzhou Innovation Research Institute (Yuhang), established to help Beihang University in project construction and faculty development, was launched on Nov 20 and has already published recruitment notices.