(Virtual China News, Oct. 25) China will buy 28 commercial airline jets from Airbus, the French airplane manufacturer, for approximately US$2.5 billion, Presidents Jiang Zemin and Jacques Chirac jointly announced. The announcement was made at a brief news conference at the Lyon airport during the Chinese president's visit to France as a part of his 17-day European tour. Airbus has been in stiff competition with Boeing, the American manufacturer, for commercial airliner sales to China. Boeing has had the lead with about 60% of total airliner sales to China, compare to Airbus' 20%, although this sale may begin to change the balance somewhat, according to the China Daily newspaper. At the news conference, Chirac said China will buy 28 jets including eight A-340's, 10 A-319's, and 10 A-318's. China will buy between 1,500 and 1,600 jets over the next 20 years to replace its commercial fleet, primarily Russian and Chinese built aircraft. This story was based on reports from the China Daily, the Associated Press, Agence France Presse and other news agencies.