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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) — With cooperation between China and Central Asian countries steadily intensifying in various fields, air carriers from both sides have shown great interest in strengthening their market positions.
NEW AIR ROUTES
The launch of new air routes connecting China and Central Asian countries, and an increase in flight frequency on existing routes, is a common choice among major Chinese and Central Asian airlines for the current summer-fall flight season, which runs from March 30 to October 25 this year.
In mid-June, China Southern Airlines became the first Chinese airline to launch a direct flight between Beijing and Dushanbe. Ten days later, the Guangzhou-based Chinese carrier launched a direct flight between Beijing and Almaty.
China Southern Airlines also opened a direct air route linking Guangzhou and Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.
Another leading Chinese carrier, China Eastern Airlines, based in Shanghai, launched a Shanghai-Almaty route in July, and a Xi'an-Tashkent route on July 16.
In July, Beijing-headquartered Air China launched flights to Beijing-Tashkent, Urumqi-Tashkent, and Beijing-Almaty.
Airlines from Central Asian countries have taken similar steps.
As reported at a press conference held by Kazakhstani airline Air Astana in June of this year in Guangzhou to mark the launch of the Guangzhou-Almaty route, the airline has been steadily expanding its route network in China since the launch of the Almaty-Beijing route more than 20 years ago.
On June 23, Air Astana flight KC583 landed at Fenghuang International Airport in Sanya, Hainan Province, marking an increase in the frequency of flights connecting Sanya and Astana.
In early July, Uzbekistan's Qanot Sharq launched a Tashkent-Shanghai route. Simultaneously, Kazakhstan's Scat Airlines began operating flights between Urumqi and Shymkent.
NEW STEPS IN DEEPENING COOPERATION
On July 29, a codeshare agreement was officially signed between China Southern Airlines and Air Astana.
The document provides for the joint operation of several air routes between China and Kazakhstan. Its entry into force will provide greater convenience for passengers from both countries, according to a statement published on the China Southern Airlines website.
The codeshare agreement, China Southern Airlines stated, has created a new paradigm for aviation cooperation between China and Kazakhstan and will effectively promote the development of bilateral ties in trade, tourism, and humanitarian exchanges.
A memorandum of understanding was also signed between China Southern Airlines and Uzbekistan Airways, the national carrier of Uzbekistan.
The two sides pledged to meet the rapidly growing demand for business and tourism travel between China and Uzbekistan through the integration and complementarity of their respective excellent resources.
According to the document, they will expand their cooperation in four key areas, including code-sharing, development of freight transportation, partnership in the field of additional services, and improving the level of passenger service. -0-
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