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Long ties
make victor of Boeing A long history of co-operative relationships between China and Boeing has laid the foundation for its success in China and will help propel the world's largest aircraft manufacturer to the next millennium. "I am very optimistic about Boeing's development in China," said Philip M. Condit, chairman and chief executive officer of the Boeing Co. Today, 330 of 489 jetliners operating in China are Boeing airplanes and the Boeing market share in China is reportedly 68 per cent. Its airplane sales to China total US$19 billion. "Although some Chinese airlines are undergoing a difficult time, I still think China will maintain at least an 8 per cent growth rate in air traffic over the next few years, which is twice the average figure of the entire aviation market in the world," Condit said, "because there is always a close correlation between air traffic growth and economic development." Boeing will launch a new long-range version of its 777, and the innovative 747, with changes to wings and body length allowing for long-range flights and more passengers. The company kept nearly the same layouts as the original aircraft "so that our customers will significantly reduce costs in training pilots and maintenance personnel," he said. "We have evaluated the market for the new products. We strongly believe the air market in Asia-Pacific will develop, and there will be more and more direct services between cities, say, more direct flights between Shanghai and a number of cities in the United States," Condit said. In regard to the Fortune 500 Forum, which begins September 27, he predicted "tremendous" economic growth in China over the next 50 years, and said China will be one of the "leading" economies in the world, he said. "I believe that 'now' is a good time to work hard for China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO)," Condit said. "Boeing has long been an advocate of normalized trade relationships between China and the United States and China's accession to the WTO." Boeing has numerous industrial programmes in China. Currently, more than 3,000 Boeing airplanes are flying with major parts built in China. Thus far, Boeing has invested US$1.5 billion to support the construction of China's airline industry infrastructure and industrial co-operative projects. Boeing has announced a donation of US$100,000 over the next two years to the national health education foundation --Project Hope--to benefit the pediatric rehabilitation programme at the Shanghai Children's Medical Centre. (China Daily) |
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