WUHAN, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday sent congratulatory messages on the successful water takeoff and landing of the AG600, China's independently-developed large amphibious aircraft.

The success of the first on-water flight of the AG600 marked another significant achievement through independent innovation by China's aviation industry, said Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission.

The flight was carried out Saturday morning in the city of Jingmen of central China's Hubei Province.