HONG KONG -- High-level meetings between Chinese leaders and their American counterparts have often been accompanied in the past by news of orders of new aircraft from the U.S.
Friday's debut meeting in Anchorage, Alaska between China's top two diplomats and representatives of the new administration of President Joe Biden was no different: a few hours before the foursome sat down together, state-owned flag carrier Air China announced an American deal for 18 planes worth $2.24 billion at catalog prices.