President Trump told Fox News that China's Xi Jinping promised to order 200 Boeing jets, calling it a major win for the American manufacturer. Beijing offered no confirmation by midday Friday, continuing a pattern where summit promises of large deals have failed to materialize. Chinese airlines are among Boeing's biggest customers in one of the world's largest aviation markets.

The announcement comes amid a troubled history for Boeing in China. Deliveries ground to a halt after 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019, then again last year when airlines stalled orders over tariffs. Cirium estimates one in seven planes flying today operates in China, and Boeing projects the country's fleet will nearly double to almost 10,000 planes over the next two decades.

Airbus holds a commanding lead, with nearly 500 outstanding orders from Chinese customers versus fewer than 200 for Boeing. Airbus assembles its A320 in Tianjin since 2008, a move that boosted its share while helping China's COMAC develop its own C919 jet. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg joined the delegation to Beijing, but without Chinese confirmation, the 200-jet claim remains an unverified headline.