Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – On 28 September 2019, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Aziz Abduhakimov received the head of the Chinese airline Zhejiang Loong Airlines Co. Ltd Yi Liu.

During the negotiations, the parties discussed the opening of the first direct flight of Hangzhou-Xi’an-Tashkent, as well as issues of further cooperation in the field of airport development, establishment of air links by a Chinese company from Xi’an, Hangzhou and Chengdu to other cities of Uzbekistan.

Detailed information about the introduction of open skies mode at the international airports Bukhara, Karshi, Nukus and Termez using the “fifth air freedom” from 1 October 2019 was given to the Chinese guests.

In this context, the Uzbek side noted the important role for Uzbekistan of opening air links between the cities. Xi’an and Tashkent, as well as the fact that the Chinese airline Zhejiang Loong Airlines Co. Ltd became the first airline to take advantage of the benefits and preferences in organizing charter and regular flights.

It was also noted that on the initiative of the Head of the country, the issues of opening direct flights between the cities of Bukhara-Luoyan and Samarkand-Xi’an were worked out.

During the negotiations, partners expressed a request to assist in obtaining discounts in services at the airport of Tashkent and in the future when opening additional flights to other cities of Uzbekistan.

The Uzbek side assured representatives of the Chinese airline of its readiness to fully support the launch of new scheduled flights between the cities of the PRC and Uzbekistan, as well as to consider the issue of discounts and subsidies in services at the airports of Uzbekistan. The parties noted the need to make the Hangzhou-Xi’an-Tashkent flight regular until the end of December 2019.

In addition, the Chinese guests were informed about the measures taken in our country to develop the tourism and aviation sectors, including the decisions of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan to radically improve legislation in this area, providing for the establishment of a visa-free regime, expanding the list of countries, whose citizens have the opportunity to obtain an electronic entry visa, the introduction of new categories of visas for certain groups of foreign citizens, the provision of the right to obtain a residence permit in the Republic of Uzbekistan, including the establishment of a visa-free regime for citizens of the PRC for a period of 7 days from January 1, 2020.

Based on this, it was proposed to organize info-tours for representatives of the PRC mass media, which would allow organizing extended promotions for PRC citizens.

In turn, the foreign partners invited the representatives of the State Committee for Tourism and the media to visit the PRC for promotional activities.

Following the meeting, the Parties agreed on further bilateral cooperation on the organization of a marketing and PR campaign providing for the promotion of the tourism potential of Uzbekistan in China.

Also, the Uzbek side assured the foreign side of its readiness to provide comprehensive assistance in organizing new regular flights to the country, including in Samarkand.