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Airbus to enhance cooperation with China's aviation industry

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-09-27 11:17

Airbus will expand and deepen its cooperation with the Chinese aviation industry, said Laurence Barron, president of Airbus China, on Saturday.

Laurence made the remarks at the Beijing International Aviation Expo that concludes on Saturday. He said, "Airbus is carrying out further cooperation with Chinese aircraft enterprises in many aspects, including R&D, installation and purchase of raw materials and spare parts."

Airbus expects the value of its joint-venture projects in China to reach $200 million in 2010 and $450 million in 2015, Laurence said.

Related readings:  Aviation Special: 'Commonality' lays the crucial foundation for Airbus success  Airbus to deliver 80 jets to China  Airbus: Cooperation and inspiration  Airbus starts $350m Harbin plant construction

In 2008, Airbus purchased $105 million worth of products in China and the trend is growing. More than half of the 5,800 Airbus planes serving in the world are installed with parts made by Chinese manufacturers, Laurence said.

He added that Airbus has been optimizing its A320 series to cope with the intensifying competition, especially the challenges to be brought up by China's self-developed passenger plane.

Commercial Aircraft Corp of China plans to put its 168-seat C919 passenger plane into market in 2016.

As a pioneer in the cooperation between Sino-EU aircraft industries, Airbus is in partnership with AVIC Harbin Aircraft Industry Co Ltd and AVIC Xi'an Aircraft Industry Co Ltd and has a general assembly plant in north China's Tianjin city.