On 20 and 21 May, the Aviation Working Group (AWG) held its general meeting at Bank of China Head Office in Beijing, China, hosted by BOC Aviation.

This is the first general meeting of AWG held in Asia since AWG was set up in 2001. One key agenda item at this meeting was to update the latest progress of the implementation of Cape Town Convention, which was ratified by 23 countries, including India and UAE which ratified this year. AWG encouraged China to ratify the Cape Town Convention, given the benefits to Chinese airlines, financial institutions, and the traveling public.

"We are delighted to have AWG's first general meeting in Beijing, China, in light of the importance of China in global aviation," said the Co-chairmen of AWG, Mr. Claude Brandes, Customer Finance Director of Airbus and Mr. Scott Scherer, Vice President and General Manager of Aircraft Financial Service of Boeing Company.

Other than the Cape Town Convention, AWG is also working on a number of projects that aim at improving the infrastructure surrounding the financing and leasing of aircraft.

In solidarity with and support of those who suffered in the massive earthquake that struck Sichuan, China, AWG agreed to make a donation through the International Red Cross Organization.

Aviation Working Group, co-chaired by Airbus and Boeing, consists of the following member companies: Aercap, Aircastle, ATR, Aviation Capital Group, AWAS, BNP Paribas, BOC Aviation, Bombardier Aerospace, Calyon Airfinance, Citibank, DVB, Embraer, GE, GECAS, ILFC, JP Morgan, KfW, Mitsubishi, Morgan Stanley, Pratt & Whitney, RBS Aerospace, Rolls-Royce and SAFRAN.