China Aviation Industry Corporation I (AVIC I) and China Aviation Industry Corporation II (AVIC II), Thursday signed separately a memorandum of understanding with Boeing in order to provide parts and assemblies for Boeing 7E7 airplanes.

Boeing will work with Chengdu Aircraft Industrial Company, an AVIC I affiliated company, for supply of the rudder -- a key component of the vertical fin that provides stability for an airplane's directional control, according to the memorandums.

Boeing is developing additional opportunities for Hafei Aviation Industry Co., Ltd (Hafei), an AVIC II affiliated company, to produce metallic and composite parts and assemblies for various Boeing jetliners, including the 7E7.

"China has an important role on the 7E7 program," said Jim Morris, senior vice president of Supplier Management for Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

More than 3,400 Boeing airplanes, one third of Boeing's world fleet, have their major parts and assemblies built in China. To date, Boeing has procured more than us$500 million of aviation hardware from China.

(Xinhua News Agency June 11, 2004)