Urumqi (CNS) -- China Southern Airlines (CSA) launched its Beijing-Urumqi-Istanbul airline on November 22. The line, connecting major destinations on the historic Silk Road, aims to revitalize a diversity of interactions between Turkey and China, especially the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
Statistics indicate most of the more than 80,000 Chinese in Turkey are from Xinjiang.
Turkish Ambassador to China H.E. Mr. Murat Salim Esenli anticipates the new airline routes will stimulate and support high levels of bilateral cooperation in the trade, cultural and tourism sectors of both national economies. He also expects an increase in Chinese tourists to Turkey, possibly to 100,000 visitors in 2011, thanks to the new line.
Nur Bekri, head of Xinjiang, echoed the ambassador's hopes and expressed similar faith in the future of cultural and trade developments between Xinjiang and Turkey.
The launch of the 'Silk Road' line is an important step in the national strategic plan to explore the Xinjiang civil aviation market, said General Manager Wan Geng of CSA.
