Beijing (AsiaNews/SCMP) The announcement expected today of an agreement with France for the acquisition and assembling in China of around 70 A320 Airbus planes, marked the first leg of an 11-day trip of Wen Jiabao in Europe and Malaysia. The Chinese premier's trip, set to focus on trade and acquisition of technology, started yesterday.
The Chinese premier landed in Toulouse, the home of French aerospace research and industries. He is accompanied by a 70-strong delegation, among them Zhang Xiaoqiang, vice-chairman of China's State Development and Reform Commission, who signed an industrial pact with Gustav Humbert, the head of the European aircraft manufacturer.
China is expected to sign orders for about 70 A320 single-aisle jets worth US$5 billion. However the supply of civilian helicopters and space equipment will also be discussed: talks with Eurocopter, the world's largest civilian helicopter firm, and with Alcatel for space equipment are expected. The signing has been set for today, during a ceremony after talks between Wen and the French premier, Dominique de Villepin. A spokesman for the French premier said the objective of the talks with Wen is above all on economic matters and that there would be "good news" for France's aeronautics industry. French firms are keenly interested in gaining a foothold in the vast Chinese market and Beijing must import technology and skills.
Observers say this agreement reached with the assent of US President Bush given during his visit to Beijing in November reveals that China does not want to be left out of this sector but to contribute to establishing its rules and development.
The Chinese market "is the market where you have to be", said Airbus China chief Laurence Barron during Wen's visit to the assembly plant of the A380 super-jumbo. ""One in six planes sold this year will go to China. Next year, that will be one in five. We have 30 per cent of their fleet now and hope that will rise to 50 per cent in coming years."
Nuclear energy is another item on the agenda. China wants to set up several new plants and it must acquire the necessary technology and skills. Wen has told the French daily newspaper Le Figaro he hopes France will present more favourable proposals.
After three days in France, on Wednesday, Wen will head for Slovakia Czech Republic and Portugal. From Europe he will go to Kuala Lumpur to participate in a summit of East Asian countries.
