Airbus, which today confirmed plans to create a narrowbody final-assembly line in China, has simultaneously announced agreements for the supply of 150 narrowbodies and 20 A350XWB widebodies to the country.

In a statement the manufacturer says: “China Aviation Supplies Import and Export Group Corporation (CASGC) signed a general terms agreement (GTA) for the purchase of 150 A320 family aircraft and a letter of intent (LOI) for 20 A350XWB aircraft with Airbus in Beijing.”

It adds that the agreements were signed by CASGC president Li Hai and Airbus president and CEO Louis Gallois in the presence of Chinese President Hu Jintao and visiting French President Jacques Chirac.

No further details were initially given.

Airbus earlier today signed an agreement with China to establish an A320 final assembly line in Tianjin, which is scheduled to begin production in early 2009.

The agreement follows confirmation earlier this year from Airbus and China’s National Development and Reform Commission that Tianjin had been selected from a total of four prospective sites in the country as the location for the new assembly line.

EADS co-chief executive Louis Gallois and Chinese consortium representative Feng Zhijiang officially signed the agreement in Beijing today in the presence of Chinese President Hu Jintao and visiting French President Jacques Chirac. The consortium comprises the Tianjin Free Trade Zone, China Aviation Industry Corp I (AVIC I) and China Aviation Industry Corp II (AVIC II).

The contract is subject to formal approval from EADS’ board of directors and the Chinese Government. The assembly line is scheduled to begin production in early 2009, with production rates expected to reach four A320s a month by 2011.

“While the aircraft sections will continue to be produced in Europe, the establishment of such an assembly line, which will deliver aircraft to the same standards as those produced in Europe, is beneficial to both China and Europe,” says Gallois. “We look forward to the day when we can deliver the first aircraft assembled in China to this fast-growing and dynamic market.”

Tianjin is located a few hours’ drive from Beijing and is one of only four cities in China that reports directly to the Chinese Government at a national rather than provincial level.

Source: FlightGlobal.com