Direct flight to resume between Afghanistan, China after 3-year hiatus

Direct flight between Afghanistan and northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is to resume in mid July after a three-year hiatus, officials announced here Monday.

The air route is the only air link between the two countries.

Maiden flight will be carried out by Ariana Afghan Airlines on July 13 from the Afghan capital of Kabul to Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, and return the next day.

At a resumption ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan Yao Jing hailed the move as a big step forward for bilateral ties.

China and Afghanistan have been good neighbors since ancient times, and the resumption of the direct flight will further promote cooperation, trade and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, Yao said.

The direct flight will also facilitate the implementation of the China-proposed Belt and Road initiative and help boost Xinjiang's economic development, the ambassador added.

Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah said in a congratulatory message that the resumption of the air route will strengthen bilateral cooperation in economy, trade and security, and promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. Endit