China's senior economic planning official publicly backed an expansion of Boeing's commercial engagement with Chinese enterprises following a high-level meeting held during a U.S. presidential visit to Beijing.
Zheng Shanjie, the chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), met on Friday with Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg. Ortberg traveled with President Donald Trump’s delegation to China this week and held the meeting while in Beijing.
In a statement released by the NDRC, Zheng said China welcomes Boeing deepening practical cooperation with Chinese companies based on commercial principles. Zheng also said Boeing should continue to function as a bridge between the two countries and help support stable China-U.S. relations.
Separately, President Trump announced aboard Air Force One after leaving Beijing that China had agreed to purchase 200 Boeing aircraft. The president added that the order could potentially expand to 750 planes, characterizing the figure as a possible enlargement of the initial purchase.
What was confirmed by officials in the exchanges was limited to the meeting and the respective statements: the NDRC release supporting deeper, commercially driven cooperation and the president's announcement of a 200-aircraft commitment with an upside possibility to 750. No additional contractual details, delivery schedules, financing terms or timelines were provided in those statements.
The interactions brought together a government economic planning official and an executive from a major aerospace manufacturer during a diplomatic visit, with public comments emphasizing commercial principles and bilateral stability.
Summary of events:
- Kelly Ortberg, Boeing's chief executive, met NDRC chairman Zheng Shanjie in Beijing on Friday.
- Zheng expressed official support for Boeing to deepen practical cooperation with Chinese enterprises on commercial terms and to act as a bridge between the two nations.
- President Trump announced on Air Force One that China agreed to buy 200 Boeing aircraft, with the potential for that number to rise to 750.
The statements and announcements provide a snapshot of official positions and a presidential declaration of a purchase agreement; they do not, by themselves, outline contractual specifics or confirm subsequent actions beyond the public remarks.