China and Panama will be linked by direct flights as of March 2018

The state airline Air China will begin operating direct flights between China and Panama as of March 2018, the company's head, Cai Jianjiang, announced today. Panamanian President, Juan Carlos Varela, at the meeting held by both in Beijing.

Beijing, Nov. 19 (EFE) .- The state airline Air China will begin operating direct flights between China and Panama as of March 2018, the company's chief executive announced today. Cai Jianjiang, to the Panamanian president, Juan Carlos Varela, in the meeting held by both in Beijing.

The flights will unite twice a week the two national capitals, Beijing and Panama, with technical stop in Houston (southern US), and announced only two days after the civil aviation authorities of both countries signed the agreements authorizing the establishment of air links.

The Panamanian Government, which only five months ago established diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China - cutting off the ones it maintained with Taiwan- it hopes with this agreement to promote in Panama the potential of Panama as the main air node in Latin America.

"In addition, commercial and tourist exchange will be enhanced. both nations (China and Panama) are proposed, "said the statement from the Panamanian government that announced the new air route.

Varela, accompanied by the vice president and Minister of Affairs Foreign Isabel de Saint Malo de Alvarado, met today with representatives of Air China and the other three major airlines of the Asian giant (China Eastern, China Southern and Hainan Airlines) to coordinate the implementation of the aforementioned bilateral air links agreement.

The Ministers of Commerce (Augusto Arosemena) and Tourism also participated in the meeting. (Gustavo Him), as well as the minister Francisco Sierra and the president of Copa Airlines, Stanley Motta, among other Panamanian authorities.

Panama receives 3,900 weekly flights that add 90 air connections to 34 countries in Europe and America.

Varela, who makes the first official visit of a Panamanian president to China, will continue his trip tomorrow in the capital economic and financial, Shanghai, where he plans to meet with local authorities and lead business forums and promotional events in the Central American country.

The visit It has been described as "historic" by both governments, given the importance that China has had to snatch from Taiwan this diplomatic ally, key in world trade for the strategic interoceanic channel that manages (in which Chinese ships are the second largest global customers).