Airbus to extend industrial cooperation with China

The National Development & Reform Commission of China (NDRC) and Airbus have signed a Memorandum of Understanding about the cooperation between the Chinese civil aviation industry and the European manufacturer. The MOU sets the frame for a further upgrade of the cooperation between both parties. It also describes the process to evaluate the fields of enhanced cooperation, including the possibility to establish a Final Assembly Line for single aisle aircraft in China. In industrial cooperation with China, Airbus is committed to further increase procurement volumes to reach US$ 60 million per annum by 2007, and US$ 120 million by 2010. With regards to research and development, Airbus formally inaugurated the Airbus (Beijing) Engineering Centre in July this year and has so far recruited 54 Chinese engineers, and this will grow to 200 engineers by 2008.