AIRBUS Helicopters said Friday it has signed a letter of intent for the sale of 100 H135 helicopters to China and the construction of an assembly plant here.

    The 750 million euro (US$800 million) deal for the versatile twin engine machines often deployed in emergency medical services came during German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s visit in China.

    European manufacturer Airbus Helicopters has a 40 percent market share of a Chinese market, and believes the country has a 20-year demand of up to 5,000 copters.

    The helicopters will be made locally at the Sino-German ecopark development in Qingdao, in eastern Shandong Province, Airbus Helicopters said.

    The firm dubbed the accord a “major step forward for Airbus Helicopters in China,” seeing the country as having become its important market globally.

    The agreement “consolidates its position as the leading helicopter manufacturer in the Chinese market,” Airbus Helicopters added in a statement.

    The deal came a day after an accord between Airbus and State-owned China Aviation Supplies Holding Group for 100 A320 aircraft, worth US$9.7 billion at list prices.(SD-Agencies)