Airbus will expand its overall cooperation with China to an "unprecedentedly" large scale next year, including supply of full-range airplanes and industrial and technological cooperation, according to a company executive.

Laurence Barron, Airbus senior vice president and Airbus China president, said earlier this week that a new joint venture will be set up by Airbus and China Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC) I and AVIC II next year in Beijing.

With the establishment of the Beijing engineering and technology center, China will participate in the designing and manufacturing of 5 percent of the body of the all-new A350 aircraft.

The engineering center plans to recruit 100 Chinese engineers by 2006 and the new office building will also break the ground.

In 2006, Airbus will continue to work closely with the State Development and Reform Commission to carry out a feasibility study of establishing a final assembly line for Airbus single aisle aircraft in China, Barron added.

In order to cope with the fast expansion of the Airbus fleet in China and provide Chinese customers with the best technical support and services, Airbus will further expand its training and support facilities.

In 2006, Airbus will also continue to hold seminars or training courses regularly on safety, management, flight operation, maintenance and other fields with the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China, relevant authorities and airlines.

Barron said that Airbus' main focus in 2006 is to be further represented in the marketplace with its complete family of aircraft by means of looking at all the elements of the market, including major, regional and start-ups.

He said Airbus hoped to get 50 percent market share in China and will continue to make efforts in order to catch up with the competitor.

Airbus plans to deliver 78 aircraft to Chinese airlines in 2006, compared with the 65 deliveries in 2005, which will represent one fifth of Airbus'new deliveries next year.

Source: Xinhua