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Airbus CEO Appraises Chinese Market
Airbus Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Noel Forgeard said Thursday that China is a very important market and a "strategic partner" of his company.
In the latest move to forge closer ties, the European four-nation consortium signed Wednesday a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the China Aviation Industry Group Company (AVIC), on jointly manufacturing wings for planes of the A320 family.
Under the MOU, Airbus will transfer the manufacturing technology of some key components to the AVIC.
"This marks a big step forward in the cooperation between Airbus and China's aviation industry," said Forgeard, who is visiting China from May 16 to 20.
The A320 is the most popular single-aisle jet in the world, and has secured 2,700 orders worldwide.
The Airbus CEO expressed optimism about China's market prospects, saying that China is "an exciting market" on the brink of entering the World Trade Organization.
Forgeard will meet senior Chinese government officials, and plans to talk to his major Chinese clients the airlines based in the cities of Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xi'an.
Headquartered in Toulouse, France, Airbus has kept flexing its muscles since it was set up in 1970. The company entered the Chinese market in 1985 and its China sales has since increased steadily.
Forgeard said he supports Beijing's bid for the 2008 Olympic Games, because a large number of foreign passengers will travel to China at that time by air, and China may need more Airbus planes.
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