Boeing will deliver its 2,000th airplane to China within the year, the U.S. top aircraft manufacturer announced at the 12th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition that opened Tuesday in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province.

Boeing has delivered 153 airplanes to Chinese airline companies in the first three quarters of 2018, said Rick Anderson, Boeing vice president of Northeast Asia sales.

He said the number of airplanes delivered to China has exceeded 140 for six consecutive years, reflecting the continued strong demand of the Chinese aviation market.

China ordered 10 Boeing 707 jets in 1972, which began Boeing's presence in China. The 1,000th Boeing airplane was delivered to China in March 2013, making China Boeing's first overseas market to receive 1,000 airplanes.