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China airlines sign US$9.7b Airbus deals
(China Daily/Agencies)
Updated: 2005-12-06 05:49
PARIS: China and France yesterday demonstrated their commitment to stronger
bilateral ties with lucrative commercial deals and firm political pledges on the
second day of Premier Wen Jiabao's visit.
French President
Jacques Chirac (right) greets Premier Wen Jiabao on the steps of the
Elysee Palace in Paris yesterday. Wen is on the second day of a four-day
visit to France. [Reuters] | Wen and his French
counterpart Dominique de Villepin oversaw the signing of 14 agreements in a wide
range of fields following 80 minutes of talks.
In the largest-ever deal with Airbus, China ordered 150 A320 mid-range
single-aisle aircraft for six airlines.
The jumbo order, worth US$9.7 billion, will give the European plane maker a
big boost in the fast-growing Chinese aviation market, where its rival Boeing
currently holds a market share of around 60 per cent.
On Sunday, Airbus also signed a memorandum of understanding with the National
Development and Reform Commission that could lead to the opening of an assembly
line in China.
Harbin Aviation Industries Group yesterday inked an agreement with European
helicopter manufacturer Eurocopter to jointly produce a new civil aircraft.
The new helicopter of six to seven tons named the EC175 will go into
development in 2006 and production is due to start in 2011, Eurocopter said in a
statement.
Other contracts signed included one under which French company Alcatel would
make a Chinasat 6B telecommunications satellite and a US$175-million financing
agreement for the construction of a high-speed rail line in China.
Villepin said all the secured deals added up to "nearly 9 billion euros".
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