The Boeing Co has signed a multi-year contract with Aviation Industry Corporation of China to produce inboard flaps for Boeing 737 Max aircraft through Xi'an Aircraft Industry Company Ltd, making it the first Chinese supplier for the new aircraft, Boeing announced on Monday.

The contract will take effect from mid-2015 and part of the production process will take place at the manufacturing innovation center in Beijing -- a partnership between Boeing and AVIC.

Boeing 737 Max is a new-engine variant of the current Boeing 737 and the first delivery of 737 Max is planned for 2017.

AVIC Xi'an Aircraft has been a Boeing supplier for more than 20 years and has contracts to produce the 747/767 Boeing converted freighter floor beams, 747 inboard flaps, and 747 trailing edge ribs.