Shanghai Aircraft Manufacturing Factory (SAMF) became a supplier to Airbus on Friday when it delivered its first set of cargo door frames for the Airbus A320 family of aircraft to the French company.

Wang Wenbin, SAMF president, said the delivery was realized through the joint efforts of the two companies that started at the end of 2005. The following February, the companies, together with China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation, signed a related contract worth about 16 million U.S. dollars.

This year, SAMF planned to deliver 22 cargo door frames to Airbus. In 2009, the production would increase to 12 units per month.

So far, six Chinese manufacturers are supplying parts for Airbus aircraft. The total value of industrial cooperation between Airbus and China's aviation industry was expected to approach 200 million U.S. dollars annually in 2010 and 450 million U.S. dollars in 2015.

(Xinhua News Agency April 12, 2008)