Airbus delivered its first China-assembled A320 jet on Tuesday in Tianjin, the base of the manufacturer's only final assembly line outside Europe, The plane was delivered to Beijing-based Dragon Aviation Leasing, which will lease it to Sichuan Airlines for operation. [Xinhua]

"As a world aviation giant, what Airbus brings to China is not only the delivery of dozens of planes every year, but more importantly, the huge aviation industry chain, which will push the industrial upgrading of the whole region," said Liu Gang, professor of economics at Tianjin-based Nankai University.

"The industrial cooperation is also conducive to developing the country's own innovative abilities in the sector," Liu said. Six aviation companies in China produce plane parts for Airbus.