中国有句古话，叫做“以不变应万变”；还有一句成语，叫做“万变不离其宗”。其饱蘸哲理之精髓已成为大变革时代人们的精神支柱和行事策略。
自1972年尼克松总统乘坐“空军一号”波音707飞临神州以来，波音与中国的合作即将进入第三十五个年头。其间，中国的民航机队已增至1,000架；未来二十年，这个数字还将翻两番，达到近4,000架。
航空业的发展促进了旅游、贸易和国际交往，助推了中国经济的腾飞。中国人富裕了，乘客对飞机舒适度的要求提高了，社区对飞机环保性的要求更高了；全球油价暴涨使航空公司更加看重飞机的燃油效率；中国机队的现代化需要更多训练有素的机长和维修工程师；而更高频次的航班则对空中交通管理提出了新的挑战。
面对这一切变化，波音采取的正是“以不变应万变”的策略，不断向中国的航空公司提供节能、舒适、技术领先的飞机；加大与中国航空工业的合作，提高合作伙伴的技术能力和生产水平；并在中国建立合资企业，为客户提供飞机的维护、大修和改装服务；继续提供各种培训，并全力支持民航总局改善空中交通管理的举措。 波音的领导层最近两年也频繁发生变化。去年七月上任波音全球董事长、总裁和CEO的吉姆·迈克纳尼(Jim McNerney)今年十一月底刚刚以波音新领导人和美中贸易全国委员会主席的身份访问中国。在被媒体问及其入主波音后的新思路时，迈克纳尼说：“我们应该做的就是继续做更多同样的事情，而不是改变我们的合作方式。波音将继续巩固和发展与中国的合作，不断提升带给中国经济、航空业及各方的价值。”
正像波音民用飞机集团新任总裁和CEO斯科特·卡森(Scott Carson)最近访问中国时所强调的：“我们对客户的承诺永远不变！”波音将继续致力于帮助中国建立世界一流的安全、高效和盈利的航空系统。
过去的34年展示了波音对中国的承诺，我们将一如既往与中国航空业密切合作，共同为光明与繁荣的未来而努力。“携手合作，互利共赢，”这将永远是波音与中国合作之“宗”。
Change vs. the unchanging
A Chinese proverb says, "In the face of change, comfort comes from things unchanging."The past three decades have witnessed dramatic changes in China and Chinese aviation. One of the unchanging elements during this time has been Boeing's continuing commitment to partnership with China in the safe growth and expansion of its aviation infrastructure.
Boeing's cooperation with China began 35 years ago, when U.S. President Richard Nixon flew to China on a Boeing 707 in 1972. Since then, China's commercial fleet has expanded to around 1,000 airplanes, and is likely to quadruple to nearly 4,000 in the next 20 years.
The growth of aviation has spurred tourism, trade and international exchanges, and contributed to the soaring Chinese economy. As Chinese people become wealthier, they are demanding more comfortable and environment-friendly airplanes. Airlines are favoring more fuel-efficient airplanes because of high oil prices worldwide. The modernization of the Chinese fleet also calls for more qualified captains and maintenance engineers, while the higher frequency of flights poses new challenges to air traffic management.
Boeing is facing all these dynamic changes with a constant strategy of supplying Chinese airlines with fuel-efficient, comfortable and technologically-advanced airplanes. We are also expanding our cooperation with the aviation industry and help our Chinese partners enhance their capabilities and capacities. Boeing's joint ventures in China provide maintenance, repair, overhaul, as well as airplane modification/conversion services to our customers regionally and worldwide. Boeing continues to provide all kinds of training courses for Chinese aviation professionals and full support for CAAC initiatives to improve air traffic management.
The past couple of years have also seen frequent changes in the Boeing leadership. Jim McNerney, who took the helm in July 2005, visited China as Boeing Chairman, President and CEO, and Chairman of US-China Business Council in late November 2006. When asked by the media about his new ideas as Boeing's new leader, McNerney said: "Boeing needs to continue developing strong ties with China, so that together we can strengthen our partnership and the value we bring to the country, the industry and to each party."
Scott Carson, the new President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes pointed out during his recent visit to China:"Our commitment to customers will never change." Boeing will continue to support Chinese efforts to build a world-class, safe, efficient and profitable aviation system.
"Working together for mutual benefit and a win-win situation" will remain the unchanging essence of the cooperation between Boeing and China. We have demonstrated our commitment to China over the last 34 years and we reaffirm our commitment to working closely together with Chinese aviation for a bright and prosperous future.
