China Aviation Supplies Holding Company has signed a general terms agreement with Airbus for the purchase by Chinese airlines of a total of 300 Airbus aircraft, consisting of 290 A320 Family aircraft and 10 A350 XWB Family aircraft.

The agreement was signed in Paris by Jia Baojun [front left in photo], chairman of CASC, and Guillaume Faury [front right in photo], president of Airbus Commercial Aircraft and future CEO of Airbus, in the presence of Xi Jinping, president of China, and Emmanuel Macron, president of France, during Xi’s state visit to France.

“We are honoured to support the growth of China’s civil aviation with our leading aircraft families – single-aisle and widebodies,” said Faury. “Our expanding footprint in China demonstrates our lasting confidence in the Chinese market and our long-term commitment to China and our partners.”

According to Airbus’ latest China Market Forecast for 2018 to 2037, China will need some 7,400 new passenger and freighter aircraft in the next 20 years, accounting for more than 19% of the world total.

At the end of January 2019, Chinese operators had a total of approximately 1,730 Airbus aircraft in service, including 1,455 A320 Family and 17 A350 XWB Family aircraft, according to Airbus.