China has officially signed a deal with Airbus for the purchase of 70 jets valued at more than US$10 billion, further strengthening the relationship between the Chinese government and the French aircraft manufacturer.

The deal was signed in Paris during the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping. The agreement involved 43 A320 medium-range jets valued at US$94 million each and 27 A330 long-range airplanes valued at US$220 million apiece.

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The deal officially reopened the transactions between China and European aircraft manufacturers more than a year after the Chinese government halted its buying program due to various issues, including the imposition of carbon emission levy.

Aside from making official its order of the 70 jets, which will be carried out by state-owned China Aviation Supplies Holdings Co, China has also renewed Airbus' permit to continue manufacturing aircrafts in Tianjin for 10 years until 2025.

Helicopters Deal

Apart from the US$10-billion jets deal, Airbus and China also signed a deal to jointly manufacture 1,000 civilian helicopters over 20 years. The deal was signed by China's Avicopter, a unit of the Aviation Industry Corp of China, and Airbus' helicopter unit.

The deal calls for Airbus Helicopters and Avicopter to build the helicopters at their respective plants in southern France and in Heilongjiang province.

With the new agreement, Airbus expects to take more than 50 percent of China's US$69-billion market for helicopters.

The deals were witnessed by President Xi, French President Francois Hollande and officials from both China and France.

President Xi Jinping was in France for a four-day state visit, as the two countries celebrate 50 years of full diplomatic ties. The France visit was part of Xi's European trip, his first since he became China's leader last year.