The Biofuels International website reports a joint venture between China and (American aircraft manufacturer) Boeing to develop jatropha-based aviation biofuels, and to launch China's first biofuel-powered flight later this year. The signatories for the joint agreement are the Boeing Company, Air China, and PetroChina; it was signed, following the US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue meeting. According to Al Bryant (Vice President, Boeing Research and Development Department, China), four biofuel-powered flights have been successfully tested in the United States, and attention has shifted to China due to its desire to "speed up the process". China reportedly contributes about 2% of global gas emissions that are considered harmful. Mr. Bryant says, "We believe that in three to five years we should see a portion of fuel in commercial aviation (using biofuel) but a lot more has to be done; we've proven it can be flown and it is a matter of scaling it up to make it financially viable". "China has now become the top priority for major advancements in the aviation industry"..