FRENCH President Nicolas Sarkozy yesterday oversaw the signing of about US$30 billion in aviation, nuclear and other deals in what he described as an unprecedented day of trade with China.

The two major agreements announced on the second day of Sarkozy's visit to China were contracts for European aerospace giant Airbus to deliver 160 aircraft and French firm Areva to build two nuclear reactors.

Sarkozy said the value of all the deals, signed after he met with Chinese President Hu Jintao in the Great Hall of the People, was about 20 billion euros (US$29.6 billion).

"The total amount of these contracts has never been matched before," Sarkozy told Hu shortly before the official signing ceremony.

"I want to thank President Hu for his personal involvement," he said later.

The most lucrative contract was for Airbus to deliver 110 A320s and 50 A330s in a deal a spokesman for the European firm said was worth US$17.4 billion, based on the list price.

Airbus spokesman Robin Tao said the agreement was its biggest ever in dollar terms with China, which has the world's fastest-growing aviation market.

Ten of the 50 A330s will go to China Southern Airlines, the nation's largest carrier by fleet size, which made that part of the deal public in late October.

China's domestic air traffic is expected to double every five years and aviation authorities believe three of their airlines will be among the world's top 10 both in terms of passenger traffic and revenue by 2020.

Areva said the contract to build two third-generation nuclear reactors for China Guangdong Nuclear Power Corp. (CGNPC) in southern China was worth 8 billion euros and was also historic.

"It's a record. In the history of the civilian nuclear industry, there's never been a deal of this magnitude," Areva chief executive Anne Lauvergeon said.

With China seeking to rapidly build up its nuclear power industry, the deal was important for Areva after losing out in July to U.S.-based Westinghouse Electric in a bid to build four other nuclear reactors.

Areva and CGNPC also agreed to set up a company that would operate the two European Pressurised water Reactors, or EPRs, until 2026, according to the agreement.

According to the deal, CGNPC will take over 35 percent of the operations of three African uranium mines which Areva gained control over this summer after acquiring Canadian uranium producer UraMin.

Other deals announced yesterday included a 750-million-euro telecommunication contract between Alcatel of France and China Mobile, and one worth 80 million euros for Eurocopter to provide China with 10 helicopters.

Hu and Sarkozy also discussed a range of international issues including Taiwan, the crisis over Iran's nuclear program and the apparent progress in winding back the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's atomic weapons ambitions.

Sarkozy said he opposed the island's plan to hold a referendum on U.N. membership next year.

Speaking to French business leaders Sunday night, Sarkozy said China should play a more active role in resolving the Iran nuclear standoff and other international disputes, including the domestic political tensions in Myanmar.

"China now plays an essential role in the global economy ... by its very existence it changes the world balance. That brings with it rights, but also responsibilities, or rather duties," he said.

He will leave China today after visiting Shanghai.

(SD-Agencies)