The jet, produced by state-owned manufacturer Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (COMAC) took off from Shanghai's Pudong Airport and flew for over three hours, it said.

Plane production has been dogged by certification woes as tough U.S. export rules have delayed the shipment of spare parts.

China Eastern and COMAC signed a C919 procurement contract in Shanghai on March 1, Xinhua said.

($1 = 6.4589 Chinese yuan renminbi)

(Reporting by Stella Qiu and Engen Tham in Shanghai; Editing by William Mallard)