A new direct flight route connecting Urumqi, the capital city of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, with Shymkent, Kazakhstan, was launched on Saturday.
Carrying 122 passengers, the inaugural flight departed from Shymkent on Saturday morning. It arrived at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport at 5:50 Beijing time, marking the official launch of the Urumqi–Shymkent regular international passenger route.
The flight operates twice a week, on Wednesday and Saturday, with a one-way flight time of approximately two and a half hours, designed to enhance travel convenience for passengers.
"My husband works near Shymkent, so previously, I had to fly to and transfer in Almaty (the largest city in Kazakhstan) first before I got there. Now the direct flight brings much more convenience to us," said Yang Mudan, a tourist.
The new route is the third direct air route connecting Urumqi with cities in Kazakhstan. It promotes travel, economic and trade cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges between China and Kazakhstan.
"Urumqi Tianshan International Airport now offers direct flights to three Kazakh cities, namely Almaty, Astana, and Shymkent, with around 50 flights operating each week. As of Friday, more than 120,000 travelers have flown between China and Kazakhstan this year, marking a 26 percent year-on-year increase," said Peng Hongyi, an officer from Urumqi Border Inspection Station of Xinjiang Entry-Exit Border Inspection General Station.
The airport, as an important aviation hub, now operates 24 international routes to destinations in 17 countries across Central Asia, Western Asia, and Europe.
New air route launched to link China's Urumqi with Shymkent, Kazakhstan
The statement of U.S. President Donald Trump highlighted the urgency for reforming global governance, according to a poll from China Global Television Network (CGTN) on Friday.
"I don't need international law," said Trump during an with The New York Times this week, days after the U.S. attack on Venezuela and the forcible seizure of President Nicolas Maduro. This statement perfectly captures Washington's unilateral and hegemonic trajectory. The New York Times observed that Trump's assessment of his own freedom to use any instrument of military, economic or political power to cement American supremacy was the most blunt acknowledgment yet of his world-view.
In a global public opinion poll conducted by CGTN, 93.5 percent of respondents expressed belief that the U.S., by pursuing unilateralism, has placed itself in opposition to the international community. Also, 91.7 percent think that reforming the global governance system is an urgent priority.
On Wednesday the U.S. announced its withdrawal from 66 international organizations, setting a new record for its retreat from multilateral commitments. These organizations span climate, energy, and global governance, among other fields. Trump argues that their operations run counter to U.S. national interests, sovereignty, and economic prosperity.
In response, 84.1 percent of respondents were not surprised by the U.S. move. Meanwhile, 88.9 percent viewed it as another radical step under the "America First" doctrine. In addition, 93 percent believed the U.S. approach of using international systems when beneficial and abandoning them when not severely undermines the existing international order and global fairness and justice. Also, 88.3 percent noted that the U.S. withdrawals once again expose it as an irresponsible major power, dealing a significant blow to its international reputation. Furthermore, 88.5 percent believe the U.S. withdrawals reflect its negative attitude toward global governance.
The recent episode of unilateral and bullying actions by the U.S. government has sparked widespread alarm and discontent within the international community. Washington's adherence to the law of the jungle where "might is right" is severely undermining the global governance system. In the poll, 89.9 percent of respondents agreed that multilateralism, based on coordination and cooperation, remains key to addressing current global governance challenges. Meanwhile, 94.4 percent believe it is crucial to advance the reform of the global governance system, uphold international rule of law, and enhance the effectiveness of multilateral mechanisms. Moreover, 90 percent think major powers should shoulder greater responsibility and play a more constructive role in promoting global governance reform.
The poll was conducted across CGTN platforms in English, Spanish, French, Arabic, and Russian languages, attracting 24,000 responses within 24 hours.
Trump says 'I don't need international law,' highlighting urgency for reforming global governance: CGTN poll
