Airbus has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Development and Reform Commission of China (NDRC) on the further development of industrial cooperation in Tianjin. The signing was attended by French President Emmanuel Macron and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The agreement was signed by He Lifeng, Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of China and Fabrice Brégier, Airbus COO and President, Commercial Aircraft, in Beijing. Both sides agreed to further enhance their industrial partnership in Tianjin and strengthen the cooperation around technical innovation, engineering capabilities and supply chain expansion.

Ramping up A320

On the same day, Airbus and its Chinese partners also signed a framework agreement on ramping up its A320 production rate at its Final Assembly Line in Tianjin to six aircraft per month.

This target is five aircraft by early 2019 and six per month by early 2020. Since its inauguration in 2008 the Final Assembly Line in Tianjin has assembled a total of 354 A320 Family aircraft (to 31st December, 2017). Deliveries to Chinese customers and to operators throughout the Asia-Pacific region have included the first A320neo in the second half of 2017.

“The industrial cooperation between Airbus and China and its continued success are a true role-model of a winning partnership between China and Europe. Together with our Chinese partners we are proud to lift our cooperation to new heights.”

By Fabrice Brégier, Airbus COO and President of Commercial Aircraft