Singapore Airlines 'ideal partner'

China Eastern Airlines is still keen to form a strategic partnership with Singapore Airlines, the Chinese carrier said yesterday.

"Singapore Airlines is still our ideal partner and we will not consider the offer from China National Aviation Corp (CNAC)," Li Fenghua, president and chairman of China Eastern and CPPCC member, said.

China Eastern's proposal to sell a 24 percent stake to Singapore Airlines and Temasek, the Singapore government's investment arm, at HK$3.8 per share was rejected at a shareholders' meeting in January due to CNAC's counteroffer. CNAC, the parent company of Air China, offered no less than HK$5 per share.