A senior manager from Airbushas affirmed that his company aims to achieve at least 50 percent market share in China although it only enjoys 24 percent at present.

"We see China over will be the second largest market in the world after the United States over the next 20 years and Airbus in China should obtain at least 50 percent of its market share as same as Airbus aims in the rest of the world," Guy Mcleod, President of Airbus Industrie China Limited, said in an interview during the Asian Aerospace 2002 ongoing in Singapore.

"When we looked at its leadership and stabilizing influences on Asia and the whole world during the Asian crisis and today, we can see the country is large and progressing very steadily," he emphasized.

First Airbus airliner arrived in China in 1985. Now there are over 100 Airbus airliners in operation in China, though less than the Boeing-made airliners.

Mcleod said that Airbus wants to work with Chinese airlines and authorities not only in selling aircraft but also working withChina's aviation industry, citing the production of wings of Airbus 320 in China.

Noting Airbus 320 is a family of fast selling, he claimed thatwhat Airbus has invested and is moving to China is not old aircraft and parts but products of success and sophisticated wings.

On efforts Airbus is going to make to increase its market share in China, Mcleod said that Airbus will expand its customer ranks and work with authorities and industries, saying Airbus willcontinue to convince authorities, potential customers and industries what benefits Airbus can bring to them under the macro level of China.

He said Airbus will reach to every level of the Chinese marketand make efforts to increase Airbus fleets of existing customers, to attract potential customers to use Airbus aircraft, to hold seminars to help Chinese managers, to assist in training personnel, and to produce spare parts in China.

"We are working very successfully with Chinese authorities on training of engineers, pilots and support centers," he said, adding "We really see ourselves committed to Chinese aviation industry of every level."

Mcleod also promised to work with China's Aviation industry and to transfer technology to its Chinese partners, saying "Airbus will work together with China's aviation industry so that China will be a true partner of Airbus not only for purchasing butalso for production". He billed this as " industrial cooperation."

Commenting on China's aviation industry, Mcleod said that "Youshould be proud of your aviation industry which is developing in right direction," referring to commercialization in the restructuring of China's aviation industry.

On his work of seven years in China as representative of Airbus, Mcleod said that "We can understand the Chinese specific issues and where we can assist the Chinese aviation industry as itdevelops," underlining this is the key to success.

( February 28,2002)