The cooperation between governments of China and Germany and
between businesses of the two countries will never seek temporary
or short-term benefits, but aim at long-term and win-win results,
visiting German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said Monday.
The chancellor made the remarks while visiting the China-Germany
joint venture of Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering Co., Beijing
(Ameco Beijing), the first stop immediately after he arrived in
Beijing afternoon.
Schroeder came here for a three-day working visit to China at
the invitation of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.
He cited Ameco as a successful example of cooperation between
businesses of China and Germany. "How should the cooperation be
carried out between the two countries, Ameco can tell us,"
Schroeder told dozens of reporters both from China and overseas in
Ameco's huge hangar with a capacity to accommodate four Boeing 747
aircraft that began operation in 1996.
Located at the Beijing Capital International Airport and
succeeding the old Beijing Aircraft Maintenance Base of Air China,
Ameco was established on Aug. 1, 1989 with Air China holding 60
percent and Lufthansa 40 percent of the registered capital.
Ameco engages in maintenance, repair and overhaul services for
airframe, engines and components of commercial aircraft. Line
maintenance services cover nearly all Boeing and Airbus aircraft
models. The company also offers aircraft painting services,
engineering services and technical training.
Yang Yuanyuan, director of China's General Administration of
Civil Aviation, spoke positively of Ameco's outstanding performance
over the past decade and a half.
"It has not only offered excellent services for Chinese
airliners, but also successfully opened up the international market
by drawing many foreign clients," he said. "Ameco has become an
important member in the world aviation maintenance market."
During the past 15 years, Ameco has completed over 900 heavy
checks, painted 130 aircraft, repaired and overhauled 2,200 engines
and serviced more than 230,000 components. Ameco's has reported
profits over the past 15 straight years with a total revenue of
more than 12 billion yuan (US$1.45 billion).
In 2004, Ameco has further deepened the relations with its
domestic and international customers. On Sept. 29, Ameco closed a
deal with Air Atlanta Icelandic on another 12ea B747 heavy
maintenance checks. At November's China Zhuhai Air Show, Ameco
signed the hundredth RB211 engine overhaul agreement since 1993,
and signed contract with Shanghai Airlines for 4CS/4C check of
Boeing 767-300.
"Ameco has become a model of business cooperation between China
and Germany," Yang told Schroeder. "It demonstrates that we have
made a correct decision 15 years ago."
The first term of the joint venture has expired on July 31,
2004. In August this year, Air China and Lufthansa renewed their
contract, kicking off the second term of the joint venture that
lasts from Aug. 1, 2004 to July 31, 2029 with a registered capital
of US$187 million.
Schroeder said, "As one of the earliest businesses that have
been founded to carry out China-Germany cooperation, Ameco remains
young and energetic. It is not an accidental case for the two
countries to renew the contract."
"China is witnessing a growing aviation industry and it will
offer great opportunities for Ameco, I believe," he said.
Yang said Ameco's successful operation proved the efficient
cooperation between China and Germany in investment and technical
introduction.
Statistics from China's Ministry of Commerce, Germany has become
China's biggest European investor over past three years, involving
a total of 3,994 joint-venture projects with a total investment of
US$9.79 billion, and their focuses are placed on major projects
with big output and high-technology.
Apparently, the Germany chancellor was full of confidence over
Ameco's future and the prospect of China-Germany cooperation.
"When Ameco renews its contract next time, we both should be
present," Schroeder made a proposal to Yang at the close of his
Ameco visit.
(Xinhua News Agency December 7, 2004)