CHONGQING, China – China’s Ministry of Commerce on Wednesday confirmed an agreement to purchase 200 Boeing aircraft, engines and spare parts.
Commerce Department official said aviation is key to deepening China-U.S. cooperation
“Following an important agreement reached by the leaders of China and the United States, China’s aviation industry will deploy 200 Boeing aircraft based on commercial principles and the country’s needs for air transportation development,” the official said in a statement.
US President Donald Trump told Fox News last week that China would buy 200 Boeing aircraft. Although the figure was less than half of what analysts expected, it was China’s first major order for the aircraft since 2017.
Boeing Co., which makes most of its commercial aircraft in Seattle, may receive additional orders from Chinese airlines in the future, a Washington state commerce official told CNBC on Tuesday.
“There’s a lot of demand for Boeing and there’s a bit of a waiting list, so I think it makes sense that we’ll see more orders in the future,” said Andrea Chartock, deputy director of the Washington State Department of Commerce’s Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness.
“I’m very pleased to hear this announcement,” Chartock told CNBC on Tuesday. He noted that the state has “an entire industry centered around Boeing” with suppliers ranging from space to satellites.
China’s civil aviation regulator said Sunday that it had met with Boeing CEO Kelly Olsberg a few days ago. The executive was a member of President Trump’s delegation to China.
Boeing did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment.
