President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday that Boeing has secured its first substantial order from China in nearly 10 years - 200 aircraft - arranged during his recent summit with President Xi Jinping, with the possibility of growing to 750 planes.

The White House has provided no specifics on the agreement, and Boeing officials have stayed silent. CEO Kelly Ortberg traveled with Trump to Beijing as part of a group of executives pushing U.S. products and services in the Chinese market. For Boeing, this represents a crucial advance in a market vital to its future expansion.

Trump added that the deal will also support General Electric, supplying 400-450 engines. General Electric offered no immediate response on the arrangement.

Just last month, Ortberg voiced strong expectations that a wider U.S.-China deal would feature aircraft buys, describing Trump's session with Xi as a key chance for Boeing to investors.

Ortberg stepped into the CEO role in 2024, a challenging year for Boeing amid rising criticism over production shortcomings, quality lapses, and intensifying financial burdens. Early that January, a door plug panel detached from a 737 Max soon after departing Portland, Oregon, reigniting concerns about the company's manufacturing standards.

Later, the U.S. Justice Department reactivated a criminal investigation connected to the two deadly 737 Max crashes. Prosecutors ultimately agreed with Boeing to drop charges in exchange for $1.1 billion more in penalties, payments to victims' families, and commitments to enhance internal safety and quality measures.

To compound troubles, an eight-week strike by machinists building the 737 Max in Washington state through the fall halted production and deepened Boeing's economic pressures.