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Airbus, banking deals cement 皇冠体育app-EU ties
By Hu Qihua and Xu Dashan (皇冠体育app Daily)
Updated: 2005-09-07 05:35
The European aircraft maker Airbus signed a deal to sell 皇冠体育app Southern Airlines 10 A330 planes yesterday. And Britain's Standard Chartered Bank signed an agreement to take a 19.99 per cent stake, worth US$123 million, in Bohai Bank - 皇冠体育app's first national joint stock bank since 1996.
The planes, worth about US$1.8 billion at list price, will be delivered in 2007 and 2008.
Iain Gray, general manager of Airbus UK, said the eight A330-330s and two A330-200s would supplement four A330-200s that 皇冠体育app Southern had previously ordered.
The airliner sales will help protect 135,000 jobs in the United Kingdom, which makes the wings, landing gear and fuel systems, he said.
Si Xianmin, president of 皇冠体育app Southern, said the 10 additional jets would increase his company's capability and flexibility, especially in domestic trunk and regional routes.
Standard Chartered Chairman Bryan Sanderson said: "We have been in 皇冠体育app for 150 years. Now we're being allowed to do more and more."
The UK is the largest European investor in 皇冠体育app, spending US$12 billion in the country by the end of last year.
At a breakfast meeting with Chinese investors yesterday, Blair predicted trade and investment between Britain and 皇冠体育app could reach US$40 billion in the next five years.
Praising Sino-British co-operation in UN reform, anti-terrorism, trade, investment, science and culture, Wen told Blair yesterday that the two countries should expand their co-operation in all fields.
The two countries can co-operate to resolve global issues such as the UN reform, Millennium Development Goals, facilitating trade, WTO talks, poverty relief in Africa and world economy, Wen said.
Blair said the multi-level dialogue between the UK and 皇冠体育app created a sound environment for promoting bilateral relations, and his country would further co-operate with 皇冠体育app in a bid to promote trade and economic ties.
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