Xianping Wang Appointed Special Advisor to the
Civil Aviation Administration of China
Co-founder of U.S.-based aviation consulting firm assists in the ongoing development of commercial aviation in the People's Republic of China

(ARLINGTON, Va. - April 4, 2005) -- GCW Consulting, an international strategic consultancy for organizations in the aviation, energy and water resources sectors, today announced that its Co-Founder and Executive Vice President Xianping ("Ping") Wang, has been appointed Special Advisor to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). Mr. Wang will continue in his leadership role at GCW Consulting during his four-year appointment.

The CAAC is the State Council ministry governing all aspects of commercial aviation in the People's Republic of China (PRC), including its airlines, airports and airspace. Mr. Wang, who also is head of GCW's China Practice, has worked extensively with the CAAC and PRC airlines and airports for more than fourteen years, assisting in the ongoing development of commercial aviation in China. Working with GCW's China team in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, Mr. Wang has made material contributions to many pioneering projects that continue to shape the aviation industry in China - the world's fastest growing aviation market.

The CAAC appointed 14 Special Advisors in total on March 29, 2005 in Beijing. Mr. Wang is the only Special Advisor from outside of China.

"It is a great honor to be appointed to support the work of such a prestigious organization," said Mr. Wang. "It is a privilege to be invited to assist Minister Yang and the CAAC as they plan for China's future as a global aviation leader."

In recent years, Mr. Wang has been engaged extensively on a number of strategic planning projects that have had a profound impact on the PRC's aviation industry.
These include his role as the project manager in the Beijing Hub Structure Design, Shanghai Hub Development Planning and Pudong Hub Structure Design projects conducted by GCW. He also was involved in China's first foreign airline codeshare relationship, its first hub structure design, and first international air service development program. For many years, Mr. Wang also has helped Chinese and foreign carriers choose their alliance partners and negotiate the terms of these relationships, plan their air routes and networks, as well as helping parties secure and improve their traffic rights to or over China.

"Over the past decade, we have been fortunate to play an instrumental role in the reform of China's aviation industry and the growing success its airlines, airports and other aviation companies enjoy today - both inside and outside China," said GCW Consulting Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO Mo Garfinkle. "We are fortunate to have a continuing prominent role in the People's Republic of China's emergence as a world aviation leader while also helping foreign aviation companies navigate the opportunities available in this ever-important market."

Mr. Wang and Mr. Garfinkle also were the hosts of all three China National Aviation Strategy Conferences that were sponsored by the CAAC in 1994, 1996 and 2000 respectively. Along with the Eastern Regional Administration of the CAAC, GCW Consulting co-hosted, in the spring of 2004, the Inaugural Shanghai International Aviation Symposium. The symposium brought together executives from China and airline executives around the world to discuss aviation issues of the day.

"Mr. Wang's appointment is an enormous tribute for all of the China staff of GCW," said Ni Lu, GCW's Chief Representative in China and a partner in GCW, residing in Beijing. "Our entire China team values the honor tremendously, and will work along with Mr. Wang to make even greater contributions to the development of the aviation industry in this great nation in years to come."

Mr. Wang teaches in the CAAC Management College and Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics as adjunct professor, and has numerous publications on aviation in the PRC. He received his LL.B and LL.M degrees from Peking University and China Academy of Social Sciences, respectively. After practicing maritime and international trade law in Beijing for several years, he received his J.D. degree at Duke University School of Law in 1991, and was admitted to the Virginia Bar the same year. Mr. Wang is a member of the federal bar of the Fourth Circuit.

Mr. Wang lives in the metropolitan Washington D.C. area with his wife and two daughters. He splits his work time between the U.S. and China.

About GCW Consulting

GCW Consulting is a strategic consultancy for organizations in the aviation, energy and water resources sectors. A truly global firm, GCW has conducted work for corporations and governments around the world, with particular expertise in business development and counseling in the People's Republic of China. Based in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area suburb of Arlington, VA., GCW also has offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, China; and London, England. For more information on GCW Consulting, please visit www.gcwconsulting.com.