CHINA’S aviation regulator said Tuesday it held a meeting with Boeing last week about the return of the 737 MAX to China, a day before the U.S. firm’s top executives said they would begin remarketing some jets meant for Chinese customers.

The talks were held in Zhoushan in eastern China and included a visit to Boeing’s new completion and delivery center, the media arm of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) said.

China suspended commercial flights of the Boeing 737 MAX since March 2019 after two fatal crashes. The CAAC has not yet approved the return of the 737 MAX.

The purpose of the meeting was to review improved aircraft training plans for the model, the regulator said, adding it would release a revised report when the questions raised at the meeting were resolved.

The day after the Sept. 14 meeting, Boeing’s top executives said the planemaker would begin to remarket some 737 MAX jets earmarked for Chinese customers because it could not wait indefinitely for a thaw in U.S.-China trade relations.

Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun said resuming deliveries in China was critical to Boeing’s future, but the outlook for selling planes to China in the “near term ... a year or two” was negative. (SD-Agencies)