Chinese aircraft makers Shenyang Aircraft Corp. and National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corp. had won a US$40 million contract to manufacture cargo doors for Airbus SAS, the European giant said Friday.

Under the agreement signed in Germany, the two Chinese companies and France-based Eurocopter will manufacture forward cargo doors for the A330/A340 aircraft.

The contract was part of a US$100 million agreement Airbus awarded in June to China Aviation Industry Corporation I (AVIC I), parent of Shenyang Aircraft, with negotiations for the remaining part of package ongoing, Airbus said in a statement.

In a separate statement released Friday, Airbus said it had received the approval from parents European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co. and BAE Systems Plc. to launch the A350 jetliner, which is scheduled to enter service in 2010.

Airbus has said it may let Chinese aviation manufacturers supply up to 5 percent of parts on the A350 aircraft once receiving the go-ahead.

(Shenzhen Daily December 20, 2004)