EADS head hails co-op with China　　

www.chinaview.cn 2006-01-10 12:54:25


PARIS, Jan. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- The technological cooperation between the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company (EADS) and China is a win-win situation, the joint president of the EADS said on Monday.

Speaking at a press conference, Noel Forgeard brushed aside some European journalists' concerns over the EADS' transfer of its assembly line of the A320 airbus to China, saying such worries are "unnecessary."

"We should not be too conservative about our cooperation with China, " he said.

In December 2005, the European aircraft manufacturer Airbus won a record order from China, which signed for 150 of the company's mid-range A320 models in a deal worth about 9.7 billion U.S. dollars.

The deal also included the "possibility" of establishing an Airbus assembly plant in China that would turn out single-aisle planes like the A320.

The EADS, parent company of Airbus, is very clear about the importance of its technological cooperation with China, said Forgeard, citing China's strength in aviation technologies and the possibility for China to grow into the world's second largest aviation market.

Compared with Boeing's technological cooperation with Japan, the EADS' previous cooperation with China is far from enough, said Forgeard, adding he is confident that the cooperation between Europe and China on airbus technologies will prove win-win.

The EADS has attached great importance to its technological cooperation with China, and in the future, at least 5 percent of the A350 airbus planes will be manufactured in China, he said.

In that process, some technological transfers are reasonable and are in the needs of both sides, said Forgeard. Enditem

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