Europe hopes to establish a long-term partnership with China in aviation and aerospace industries, said Philippe Camus, CEO of European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company (EADS).

"Europe has performed successful and perfect cooperative strategy with China in the past, we hope it can continue and strengthen," he said.

In aviation, Airbus, a EADS company, has received 55 new orderssince 2004, including 21 Airbus A320 from China Southern, 26 aircraft from China Eastern and eight from Hainan Airlines, Camus said.

Eurocopter, another EADS company, signed agreement with China Aviation Industrial Corporation to co-produce a new helicopter, which will be in operation in 2010.

Camus said EADS strengthened technical cooperation with China. Last year EADS invested US$30 million in China Aviation Scientific Industrial Company, to jointly develop, produce and export new aviation products. EADS also planned to sponsor qualified Chinese scientists to study in Europe.

As world's leading aeronautic and defense company, the sales volume of EADS reached 30 billion euros last year. EADS included companies such as Airbus and Eurocopter.

(Xinhua News Agency November 3, 2004)