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China, Airbus ink co-op MOU
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-12-05 15:59
China and Airbus have signed a memorandum of understanding on further
boosting cooperation between the Chinese civil aviation industry and the
European manufacturer.
Visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao was present at the signing ceremony in
Toulouse at the headquarters of Airbus, the world's largest commercial aircraft
maker.
Zhang Xiaoqiang, vice minister of China's National Development and Reform
Commission, and Airbus President and CEO Gustav Humbert signed the document,
which sets the framework for a further upgrade of the cooperation between the
two sides.
"We are very pleased to enter into discussions about possible next steps of
cooperation with our Chinese industrial partners who over the years have
developed real industrial competence on which we can now draw," Humbert said.
Zhang, for his part, said the document marked an important step in the
industrial cooperation between China and Airbus.
Airbus' industrial cooperation with China dates back to 1985 when it signed
the first agreement with Xi'an Aircraft Company to produce and assemble access
doors for Airbus A300/A310 wide-body aircraft in China.
Now, five Chinese companies are involved in producing parts for Airbus
aircraft. Airbus inaugurated the Airbus (Beijing) Engineering Center last July
and has so far recruited 54 Chinese engineers.
Airbus has also offered the Chinese aviation industry participation in the
A350 program of up to 5 percent of the airframe. Such participation will include
both design and manufacturing.
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