Huge potential of China's aviation market attracts int'l airlines

The potential of the Chinese aviation market remains vast as China's economic growth and opening-up encourage inbound travel for both business and pleasure, according to aviation experts.

The latest data shows that the number of inbound and outbound international passenger flights to and from China has recovered to 80 percent of pre-pandemic levels as global airlines continue to resume and increase routes to meet rising demand.

In terms of scale, China's civil aviation transportation has ranked second in the world for 19 consecutive years.

Experts attributed the country's booming aviation market to its policy dividends. China has enjoyed comprehensive mutual visa exemption with 24 countries, offered visa-free entry policies for 16 countries, and extended 72-hour or 144-hour visa-free transit policy to 54 countries. The visa-free policy and relevant measures have significantly boosted inbound tourism.

"In recent years, China has been enlarging its visa-free 'circle of friends' and implementing a series of policies to facilitate entry and exit, stimulating a growing desire among international travelers to visit China. With the expansion of China's economy and the improvement of people's living standards, the demands for international travel and business exchanges will continue to increase," said Liu Yue, Chief Economist of the International Office of Air Transport Research Institute under China Academy of Civil Aviation Science and Technology.

Liu added that demand for outbound travel in China will also continue to strengthen with the improvement of people's living standards.

Other experts stress that increasingly convenient traveling policies and the improved air-route network will further attract international visitors to China.

"The resumption of international flights to China is closely tied to the country's high-level opening up and high-quality international exchanges. In the future, as global confidence in China's economic development grows and international engagement deepens, China's aviation market will become increasingly attractive to foreign airlines," said Qi Qi, a researcher at the High-quality Development Research Center under the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

Huge potential of China's aviation market attracts int'l airlines

Huge potential of China's aviation market attracts int'l airlines

A delegation of 40 students and teachers from seven Chinese mainland universities on Thursday wrapped up their nine-day visit to Taiwan. They set off for Taiwan on Nov. 27 and visited universities, historical sites, scenic spots, as well as sports, sci-tech and cultural venues on the island, widely engaging with locals throughout the tour.

The delegation made the tour at the invitation of the Taiwan-based Ma Ying-jeou Culture and Education Foundation.

"The young people from both sides of the Strait share the same root, and we are having a harmonious communication this time. We also welcome young people from Taiwan to visit the mainland for exchange," Cao Yibo, a student from Peking University, told reporters during the tour.

The delegation included table tennis Olympic champion Ma Long who studies at Beijing Sport University, and air rifle Olympic champion Yang Qian of Tsinghua University.

"In the future, I would like to visit Taiwan again. I did not expect that so many compatriots in Taiwan would come to welcome and us and pay so much attention to our exchange tour," Ma said.

Hsiao Hsu-tsen, executive director of the Ma Ying-jeou Culture and Education Foundation, saw off the delegation at the airport on Thursday, and said the mainland students and teachers had received Taiwan residents' heartfelt welcome wherever they went.

"The farewell dinner party was held yesterday evening, when almost all students from the mainland shared their feelings. What moved me so much is that every one of them thanked people here, because the latter sincerely and warmly welcomed them wherever they went during the nine-day tour. They told me that when they go back, they will tell their relatives and friends that people in Taiwan are kind, hospitable and warm. I believe that is the most important purpose of the exchange across the Strait," he said.

Calling youth exchanges a foundation of cross-Strait relations in the future, Hsiao said the foundation will carry on and continue to promote such exchanges across the Strait.

This is the second delegation of mainland teachers and students visiting Taiwan at the invitation of the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, following the visit by a first delegation in July last year.

Delegation of mainland university students, teachers wraps up Taiwan visit