PARIS: At a time when the US-based aircraft manufacturer Boeing is strolling following crisis involving it jetliner 737 MAX, its European rival Airbus has said it has strike a deal with China to sell 300 passenger jets, international media reported.

The agreement to that end was reached during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to France, CNN reported. China is major market for airline manufacturers and Boeing and Airbus face tough competition.

The order covers 290 planes from the A320 family and 10 from the A350 line, the statement said, adding the deal was a sign of strong demand from all areas of China’s rapidly expanding aviation market, including “domestic, low cost, regional and international long haul”.