China’s Ministry of Commerce on Wednesday confirmed that the country had reached an agreement to purchase 200 Boeing aircraft, alongside engines and spare parts, describing aviation cooperation as an important pillar in strengthening ties between Beijing and Washington.
A Commerce Ministry official said the deal aligned with the consensus reached by Chinese and U.S. leaders and would support China’s growing air transport needs.
“In accordance with the important consensus reached by the Chinese and U.S. leaders, China’s aviation industry will introduce 200 Boeing aircraft based on commercial principles and its own needs for air transport development,” the official said in a statement.
The announcement followed remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who told Fox News last week that China would purchase 200 Boeing airplanes. Although the figure fell short of analysts’ expectations, it represents the first major aircraft order from China since 2017.
The agreement is expected to provide a significant boost to Boeing, which manufactures most of its commercial aircraft in Seattle, while also supporting a wider supply chain across Washington state.
Speaking on Tuesday, Andrea Chartock, Assistant Director at the Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness at the Washington State Department of Commerce, welcomed the development and expressed optimism about additional orders from Chinese airlines in the future.
“Boeing has a lot of demand, a little bit of a waitlist, so I believe that it’s only logical to me that there would be more orders in the future,” Chartock said.
“We are very happy to hear about this announcement,” she added.
Chartock noted that Boeing’s impact extended beyond aircraft manufacturing, saying Washington state has “a whole industry around Boeing” involving suppliers across sectors including space and satellite technology.
The latest development also comes after China’s civil aviation regulator disclosed on Sunday that it had met with Boeing Chief Executive Officer Kelly Orthberg earlier this month. Orthberg was part of President Trump’s delegation during a recent visit to China.
Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the agreement.
Boluwatife Enome
