The first direct flight linking Central Asia and Shanghai sent 110 passengers to Shanghai Pudong International Airport on Friday morning.
The Kazakhstan's Scat Airlines operated the flight on Thursday, taking off from Shymkent, a regional cultural and economic center of the country.
The Shanghai-Shymkent flight will run every Tuesday and Friday from Shanghai Pudong International Airport, and backward from Shymkent on Mondays and Thursdays (local time).
The flight is expected to further enrich Shanghai's international aviation network amid the city's efforts to become an international aviation hub, and create a more convenient air channel for the exchanges and collaboration of economy, trade, tourism, and culture between China and Kazakhstan.
"When we visited Chengdu last time, we had to fly to Beijing and then transfer to Chengdu, costing us 10-12 hours. Now visiting China becomes easier as the new flight from Shymkent opened," said a Kazakh tourist named Ruslan.
"We come to China to Shanghai for traveling. I wanna see new places," said another Kazakh tourist named Ayalumu.
The Scat Airlines is planning to increase the flight from twice per week to once per day, reaching an expected annual passenger flow of 55,000-60,000.
The new route is a latest development of the aviation network constructed by Shanghai Airport (Group) that connects 291 destinations in 48 countries worldwide. Since last year, the group has been actively restoring and expanding its international aviation network to offer more diversified air traveling options.
First direct flight between Shanghai, Central Asia launched
The U.S. military strike against Venezuela and capture of its president, Nicolas Maduro, has shocked the international community, triggering a steady stream of condemnation and serious concerns worldwide.
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay and Spain issued a joint statement on Sunday, expressing serious concern about and firm opposition to the U.S. unilateral military operations in Venezuela.
The U.S. actions contravene fundamental principles of international law, particularly the prohibition on the use or threat of force, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, as enshrined in the UN Charter, constituting an extremely dangerous precedent against peace and regional security, according to the statement.
In expressing profound concern and firm rejection, the six countries stressed in the statement that the situation in Venezuela must be resolved exclusively by peaceful means, and through dialogue, negotiation and respect for the will of the Venezuelan people in all its expressions, without external interference and in accordance with international law.
Only an inclusive political process, led by Venezuelans, can lead to a democratic, sustainable solution that respects human dignity, according to the statement.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned the U.S. raid in Venezuela as a violation of international law, adding that the Spanish government always advocates and defends international law and peaceful resolution of conflicts.
Addressing a meeting of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez demanded the unconditional and immediate release of Maduro and his wife.
Noting that Latin America and the Caribbean are a zone of peace, he expressed his firm opposition to the use of force, which is an unshakable principle.
Any aggression against Venezuela shall be regarded as an attack against all CELAC member states, and nations must collectively oppose it, he stressed.
The South African government denounced the U.S. attack on Venezuela as a violation of international law, according to a statement released on Sunday.
History has repeatedly demonstrated that military invasions against sovereign states yield only instability and deepening crisis, the statement said.
South Africa calls on the UN Security Council to urgently convene a session to address this situation, according to the statement.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said what happened in Venezuela demonstrates that international law and the UN Charter are losing their practical effectiveness.
U.S. military action against Venezuela marks a dangerous precedent, as similar actions could be taken against any other nations, he said.
In addition, the foreign ministries of Namibia, Singapore, Oman and Pakistan also issued statements on the same day, expressing grave concern over U.S. interference in Venezuela's internal affairs.
They emphasized the need to uphold international law and the principles of the UN Charter while respecting Venezuela's sovereignty.
They also called on all parties to exercise restraint and resolve the crisis through peaceful dialogue.
U.S. move against Venezuela sparks condemnation, concerns worldwide
