Reuters
Airbus is in talks with China over a potentially major aircraft order ahead of a visit to France by Chinese President Xi Jinping, two people familiar with the matter said. The Chinese leader is due to make his first Europe trip in five years next month and diplomatic sources have said trade will be high on the agenda, amid mounting EU-China tensions. China has historically signalled large jet orders timed to coincide with state visits, but the negotiations between Airbus China's CASC buying agency are expected to go down to the wire and are not guaranteed to result in a deal, the people said.