CHINA Southern, the country's largest airline, announced yesterday that it had agreed to purchase 36 Airbus planes for US$3.78 billion from Airbus SNC.

In a statement filed to the Hong Kong stock exchange, China Southern said it would buy six Airbus A330 aircraft for US$1.205 billion and 30 Airbus A320 series aircraft for US$2.575 billion. The aggregate consideration will be partly payable by cash and partly by financing arrangements with banking institutions.

The six A330 planes will be delivered in stages between 2013 and 2014. The 30 Airbus A320 aircraft will be delivered in stages from 2012 to 2015, said the airline.

Global telecommunications giant Alcatel-Lucent also announced agreements valued at 1.18 billion euros (US$1.65 billion) with three Chinese carriers to help them upgrade networks and provide related service. According to the agreements, Alcatel-Lucent Shanghai Bell, the company's flagship subsidiary in China, will complete deals with China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom.

"China is a booming market and we value our role in helping bring the power of broadband to the hands of its people," said Ben Verwaayen, chief executive of Alcatel-Lucent.

French nuclear power group Areva is also eying a US$3 billion deal with Chinese utility firm CGNPC, while oil major Total and insurer Axa were among other firms due to seal deals.