The Zhuhai-made AG600, the world’s largest amphibious aircraft, is displayed at the 11th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai in November. Photo provided to China Daily

The 11th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, held in the southern Guangdong city of Zhuhai, surpassed all expectations as it shut its hangar doors on Nov. 6, with more than $40 billion in deals signed.

Aviation and aerospace companies went on a spending spree during the week-long expo, purchasing 187 aircraft, and more than 400,000 spectators attended.

The influential event, held in Zhuhai every two years, has had a huge impact on the city’s aviation and high-end manufacturing industries, and has attracted investment and companies from across the globe, including BP plc, Royal Dutch Shell plc, Robert Bosch GmbH and Koninklijke Philips NV.

Zhuhai is nestled next to Macao and Hong Kong. The city’s government has sought to exploit the city’s geographic advantages and attract overseas investment, pulling in $3 billion from Europe alone in 2014.

This year’s air show was bigger in all aspects. As well as creating 40 percent more sales than the previous session in 2014, the indoor exhibition space has expanded from 66,000 square meters to 82,000 sq. m. About 700 exhibitors attended with 151 aircraft from 42 countries on display, as well as military equipment, engines, landing gear and the latest aerospace products.

About 100 military delegations from Europe, the U.S., Asia and Africa were invited.

The show, celebrating its 20th year, started the week off by revealing to the world the China-made stealth fighter, J-20, gathering considerable international media attention.

Other notable displays included the Airbus A350, made predominantly of carbon fiber polymers, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China’s heavy transporter, Y-20, and the Zhuhai-made AG600, the world’s largest amphibious aircraft.

Crowd favorites included aerobatic performances by the Red Arrows from the U.K. Royal Air Force, The Knights and Swifts from the Russian Air Force, and the Bayi Aerobatic Team of the Chinese PLA Air Force.

Eighteen projects were signed by the Zhuhai Aviation Industry Park on the first day alone, valued at 5.28 billion yuan ($775 million). The deals cover aircraft manufacturing, components, unmanned aerial vehicles and general aviation operations.

The show also provided a great opportunity for overseas businesses to cooperate with China, notably American aircraft manufacturer Boeing Co. and the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), a Chinese aerospace manufacturer established in 2008.

The two companies announced that they are to extend their cooperation in the research and development of more efficient bio-fuels and establish a joint company, the Boeing-COMAC Sustainable Aviation Technology Center.

Boeing and COMAC recently announced another joint project to build the American aircraft manufacturer’s 737s in Zhoushan, in East China’s Zhejiang province.

Ian Chang, Boeing’s vice-president of China Operations and Business Development, said: “The new agreement represents an increase in cooperation with COMAC, which sees two competing companies working together to promote growth in a way that cannot be done by one company alone.”

On the exhibition floor, the American manufacturer of turbofan engines Pratt & Whitney had a good show, selling 51 of its V2500 units.

James Speich, senior marketing manager of the company, said: “There has been a tremendous increase in wealth and a boom in the middle class in China, which means more and more people are flying.

“We’ve been coming to Zhuhai for the past 10 years, and it’s a great place to do business.”

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