China has entered talks to buy more than 150 Airbus jets worth £12 billion.

Sources speaking to Reuters revealed that the deal would form part of the visit by Chinese president Xi Jinping to Europe at the end of March.

The deal is expected to involve the purchase of A330 craft and include talks surrounding the creation of Airbus’s second major factory in the country, which is ranked as the fastest growing aviation market on the planet.

The talks are also expected to ease relations between the EU and China following a cooling in trade relationships following environmental policies.

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