(Yicai) June 3 -- The delivery of new Boeing planes, including the 737 Max and 787 Dreamliner, to the Chinese market is proceeding smoothly, according to the president of the US airplane manufacturer's local unit.

Alvin Liu disclosed the progress of Boeing's aircraft deliveries in an interview with Shenzhen Satellite TV on May 30, after Reuters reported that the company was forced to delay the delivery of aircraft to Chinese clients because the Civil Aviation Administration of China had started a review of batteries powering the cockpit voice recorder.

Boeing 737 Max planes were grounded in China in March 2019 because of two major crashes that killed a total of 346 people in 2018 and 2019. The 737 Max returned to flying passengers in the country in January last year.

Boeing had about 140 737 Max planes in inventory, 85 of which were for Chinese clients, according to a statement released by the company at the end of last year. Boeing had delivered 22 planes to Chinese customers this year as of the end of April.

The nearly 100 Boeing 737 Max planes in China have resumed operation on domestic and international routes, Liu said on Dec. 29. With the continued recovery and growth of China's civil aviation, Boeing will deliver new planes to Chinese customers to help them increase their capacity and enhance their operation.

The Chinese aviation market boasts great growth potential, Liu noted. China's fleet has 4,300 planes, with the number expected to exceed 6,000 in 10 years and 8,500 in 20 years, Liu added.

"The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China has made some achievements, and we are happy to witness their accomplishments," Liu pointed out. "Between Boeing and COMAC, there are very special ties, which means we are both competitors and close partners."

Editor: Futura Costaglione