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Airbus Vows to Strengthen Co-op with China
"Airbus will strengthen its comprehensive cooperation with China in the near future, including technology transformation and personnel training," said Guy McLeod acting president of Airbus China.
"China has the biggest potential airliner market in the world. We are devoted to producing the world's biggest airplane, the A380 right now. With China's entry into World Trade Organization and the 2008 Olympics approaching, we believe the connections between China and airbus will be further enhanced," the 33-year-old acting president said confidently.
Currently, China has over 100 Airbus planes, accounting for 24 percent of China's civilian aircrafts. As China's economy grows and people's living standards improves, the ratio will continue to soar.
Experts estimate that China will need 1,600 new planes costing some 150 billion U.S. dollars in the next 20 years, ranking second only to the United States.
"Our goal is not only to sell planes to China, but also to strengthen industrial cooperation," McLeod stressed.
Not long ago, Airbus signed a memo with China on co-producing the parts of wings for A320 planes, one of the world's popular planes. China's Shenyang based company will grasp the related technology in five to seven years.
So far, the companies in Xi'an, Shenyang, Guizhou and Chendu have directly produced the parts of Airbus planes, connecting to the global network and providing qualified products to its partners.
"The cooperation has progressed smoothly and is very promising for the future. We hope to provide China with the latest plane styles. In the next few years, we will increase investment as well as teach Chinese engineers and pilots with updated knowledge and technology," said McLeod.
Airbus has spent some 80 million U.S. dollars in setting up a training and support center in Beijing, the largest and the most advanced one ever built in China.
The center can simulate different situations at major airports for pilots and maintenance crew to practice relevant skills.
"Airbus has provided China with not only funds and opportunities, but also advanced skills in plane manufacturing," according to an official with the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China.
The ties linking Airbus to China are considered one of the achievements of Sino-European friendship, as the airplane producer was co-founded by Britain, France, Germany and Spain.
Since 1985, Airbus has provided all types of planes to China ranging from 100 to 400 seats in size.
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