As then president of Boeing China, Allen said his priority was the acceleration of the company's partnerships with China, including the authorities, clients and the whole aviation industry.
During the past three years, Boeing announced cooperation programs with China - and more will be announced over the course of 2014, he added.
|
|
A significant one is the Boeing-COMAC Aviation Energy Conservation and Emissions Reductions Technology Center, which was launched in August 2012 in Beijing. It is working on several projects, such as bio-fuel and air traffic control.
"I think those partnerships are really important because through them we work with China on safety, capacity and efficiency," Allen said.
Chinese manufacturers also play an important role in Boeing's global supply chain.
Xi'an Aircraft Industry Co Ltd became the first Chinese supplier of the Boeing 737 Max to produce inboard flaps in October 2013.
Airbus SAS assigned Eric Chen, an ethnic Chinese Frenchman, as president of Airbus China in 2013. He was responsible for the European aircraft manufacturer's sales in China for many years.
The priorities of the two companies' presidents in China - Allen and Chen - are different, some business insiders said, indicating they had different management methods.
"Airbus China can make some decisions on purchasing negotiations, while Boeing China's staff must report to their headquarters, or at least the regional headquarter for Asia," said a manager from a domestic airline who has previously worked with both companies.
Allen focused his attention on building up good relationships with the Chinese, he said.
"I see it as Boeing's emphasis on the China market, because the relationship is not directly related to sales numbers," he added.
As a foreigner, Allen has to deal with some challenges outside the business, when he tries to develop closer relationships with all of the stakeholders throughout the China aviation system.
|