AIRBUS cannot achieve the grand production ramp-up plan in coming years without the support of partners in China, said Alberto Gutiérrez, chief operating officer (COO) of the European aircraft manufacturer. “I feel impressed and inspired about my visit to China. I was fully aware of China’s achievements in infrastructure, connectivity, business and development,” said Gutiérrez during his recent visit to northern China’s Tianjin. “However, it’s one thing to hear about it from my team’s briefings and read reports on my desk and another to witness firsthand the incredible progress China has made. The level of capability I’ve observed here goes beyond just attracting investors. It assures a promising future,” he added. The senior executive emphasized Tianjin’s significance in aircraft delivery and customer relationships, underscoring the vital role played by the Airbus A320 Final Assembly Line Asia (FALA) in Tianjin within their global industrial system. September 2023 commemorates the 15th anniversary of the final assembly line’s inauguration in September 2008, a significant milestone for Airbus’ inaugural assembly line outside of Europe. “It is realistic to local consumption, and we can avoid the costs by moving aircraft parts from one place to another. The key is to get the local support on site,” he said. To this end, Airbus implements a “local for local” strategy and relies on the supply chain of China’s aviation industry to support the development of Airbus in China. According to data from Airbus, the company has about 200 suppliers in China. The total value of industrial cooperation between Airbus and the Chinese aviation industry reached approximately US$1 billion in 2020. Nowadays, the partnership between Airbus and its Chinese partners covers the entire industrial chain, including procurement, production, and installation of massive parts, aircraft final assembly and delivery, aircraft operation support, aviation service cooperation and aircraft recycling. Airbus also attaches great importance to competitiveness, sustainable development, and safety. “We are extremely happy with our supply chain in China,” Gutiérrez said. (Xinhua) | 