China plans to buy 70 Boeing 737 airliners in a deal worth $4 billion.

Officials in Beijing did not give financial details of the purchase, which is being announced as President Bush visits China.

Boeing says it expects Chinese carriers to buy more than 2,600 new aircraft worth $213 billion as the country's economy grows and more people travel.

Beijing often announces large purchases of American airliners in connection with visits by U.S. leaders in an effort to ease dissatisfaction over its trade surplus, which hit a record $162 billion this year.

China is a key growth market for Boeing and its European rival, Airbus.