Boeing and Airbus, the world's two aviation giants competing for China's market, started their rivalry the first day of China air show at the press conference.

Boeing said it will introduce its 217-seat 7E7 Dreamliner to China. The company held that future aviation market needs airliners with 200 to 400 seats, and demand for super airplanes would be relatively low.

But Airbus, which is trying to promote its 555-seat A380, attacked Boeing's prediction by saying that it is not that super airliners have no market, but that the Boeing Company cannot made products that suiting the need.

Airbus believed that its 555-seat A380, the larger, more efficient and more economical airliner, would better serve China's need for air transportation.

However, both companies are optimistic of China's aviation market.

"China's aviation market enjoys a bright future," said David Wang, president of Boeing China. He predicted that China will need 2,300, or US$200 billion worth of new airliners in the next 20 years as the annual growth rate of China's aviation industry will top the world by maintaining 7.3 percent.

According to Airbus' prediction, China will recruit at least 1, 300 airplanes for its arterial lines in the coming 20 years.

Competition between the two giants in China continues to increase. Both are promoting their sales by introducing technology to China and enhancing their purchase from China.

(Xinhua News Agency November 3, 2004)