Next month Airbus will choose a Chinese city for the general assembly line of the single-aisle aircraft A320.

Airbus is in discussions with China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) to evaluate the advantages of the short-listed cities. The final result will be announced at the end of March, a month later than originally expected.

After this announcement the two sides will now negotiate details including methods of cooperation and production volume, said Laurence Barron, president of Airbus China.

Airbus and the NDRC signed a memorandum of understanding last December, which included a decision to study the possibilities of building a general assembly line of the single-aisle aircraft. Since then, the two sides have evaluated four cities -- Shanghai, Tianjin, Xi'an and Zhuhai.

Airbus has only two general assembly lines one in France and the other in Germany. The venture into China will be Airbus' first foray outside Europe.

(Xinhua News Agency February 20, 2006)