By the Everett Herald Staff,
editor@rentonreporter.com

The Boeing Co. and the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China will build a new finishing plant for 737s in China for 737s delivered to Chinese airlines.

The announcement of the partnership between Boeing and the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China was made during the visit Wednesday of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Boeing’s Everett plant.

According to Boeing, the joint venture facility will significantly expand Boeing’s collaboration with China’s aviation industry while also enabling future production rate increases at Boeing’s 737 final assembly factory in Renton.

This China-based facility will not reduce 737 program employment in Washington state, according to Boeing.

Members of the Machinists union and SPEEA posted informational pickets outside two entrances to the Renton plant urging the company to preserve jobs.

One side read: “Sell Our Airplanes, Not Our Jobs.”

“Boeing is expanding our longstanding relationship with Chinese industry to meet vital goals for our company: We are bringing the Boeing 737 closer to our Chinese customers, supporting rising 737 production rates and enhancing our access to China’s dynamic and fast-growing aviation market,” said Ray Conner, Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO.

Boeing rival Airbus opened an A320 final assembly plant in Tianjin in 2008 and recently announced plans to build a second plant by 2017 in that port city to complete cabin work on A330s.

Boeing also announced on Wednesday it will  300 jetliners to Chinese airlines and leasing companies.

Chinese airlines are to buy 240 planes — 190 737s, which are built in Renton, and 50 twin-aisle planes built in Everett. Another 60 737s are to go to Chinese lessors ICBC and CDB Leasing.

Boeing revealed the deal in a fact sheet given to reporters just before Xi’s tour of the Paine Field factory. The airplanes are worth $38 billion at list prices. The actual value of the deal is likely much less.

“China is a critical international market for commercial airplanes,” said Conner, in a written statement. “We thank our Chinese customers for selecting fuel-efficient Boeing airplanes to meet their fleet growth and expansion.”

“Boeing airplanes have played an important role in supporting the development of China’s aviation transportation for the past 40 years,” Li Hai, president of China Aviation Supplies Holding Co., said in Boeing’s written statement. “These additional airplanes will further help connect the people in China and around the world.”

Boeing estimates that China will need to buy 6,330 new planes worth $950 billion over the next 30 years, and China is expected to surpass the U.S. as the world’s largest commercial airplane buyer by 2030.

Additional reporting by Dean A. Radford.