A Chinese aircraft engine producer on Tuesday signed a long-term cooperation agreement with French aero engine maker Snecma.

Under the 170 million-U.S.-dollar deal, Snecma will buy 19,112 engine disks from Shaanxi-based Xi'an Aero Engine (Group) Ltd., a military enterprise affiliated to China Aviation Industry Corporation I (AVIC I), from 2007 to 2012.

On Tuesday, the Chinese firm delivered the 5,000th turbine disk to Snecma in Zhuhai, indicating the Chinese aero-engine maker's rising reputation as a turbine disk production base.

The value of the disks delivered to Snecma by AVIC I Xi'an Aero Engine (Group) Ltd. will hit 15 million U.S. dollars this year, and the figure is expected to rise to more than 20 million dollars next year.

Xi'an Aero Engine is China's major aircraft engine producer. It generated 50.43 million dollars worth of foreign earnings by contracting the production of engine parts for overseas companies in 2003.

Source: Xinhua