Air China unveils a direct route from Xi’an to Astana in Kazakhstan

中国国际航空公司新航线：西安直达哈萨克斯坦的阿斯塔纳

File photo:Air China

资料图片：中国国际航空公司

Air China on Friday unveiled a direct route from Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province to Astana in Kazakhstan, the first fixed international service to Kazakhstan via Xi'an by the carrier, which is believed will further increase the connection between China and Central Asia.

中国国际航空公司周五推出了从中国西北部陕西省西安直飞哈萨克斯坦城市阿斯塔纳的航线，这是该航空公司首次通过西安飞往哈萨克斯坦的固定国际航班，据信这将进一步增进中国和中亚之间的联系。

The flight will operate twice per week, flying from Xi'an on Mondays and Fridays, and returning on Tuesdays and Saturdays mobilizing A320 aircraft.

搭乘A320飞机，该航班将每周运营两次，周一和周五从西安出发，周二和周六返回。

The route is driven by demand between China and Kazakhstan for personnel exchanges and it will further increase the connections in terms of trade, culture and traveling of the two countries, and boost the aviation markets of both countries, said Zhang Sheng, vice general manager of China National Holding Co at the press conference held in Xi'an.

中国国家控股有限公司副总经理张胜在西安举行的新闻发布会上说，中国和哈萨克斯坦之间的人员交流需求是这条航线开发的源动力，它将进一步增进两国在贸易、文化和旅游方面的联系，并促进两国的航空市场发展。

The launching ceremony of the flight from Xi’an to Astana by Air China on April 21, 2023 Photo: Courtesy of Air China

2023年4月21日中国国际航空公司西安至阿斯塔纳航班启动仪式。图片：中国国际航空公司提供

Air China has launched around 60 routes along the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), connecting 36 cities in 26 countries and regions since 2013.

自2013年以来，中国国际航空公司已开通约60条与一带一路倡议相关（BRI）的航线，连接了来自26个国家和地区的36个城市。

Air China said it has continuously worked to increase the recovery of the routes to shrug off the impact of epidemic, and routes along the BRI is one of the key strategic priorities. So far this year, it has relaunched 70 to 80 percent of the routes along the BRI, and the flights also recovered to 60 percent in terms of the number.

国航表示，它一直在努力促进航线的恢复，以摆脱疫情的阴影影响，BRI沿线航线是恢复的关键战略重点之一。从今年到目前为止，它已经重新启动了BRI沿线70%至80%的航线，航班数量也恢复到60%。

Air China said it will further enhance its global aviation network, and further increase the percentage of routes along the BRI as part of the group's international routes.

国航表示，即将进一步加强贯通全球航空网络，BRI沿线航线纳入集团国际航线范畴，并将进一步加大它的比例。

In a roadmap for the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) released by the Civil Aviation Administration of China, the airport in Xi'an has been highlighted as one of key international aviation hubs in China, vowing to increase the transport communications between the city and Central and Western Asia.

在中国民航局发布的第十四个五年计划（2021-25）路线图中，西安机场被强调为中国重要国际航空枢纽其一，承诺要增加该市与中亚和西亚之间交通联系。

The launching ceremony of the flight from Xi’an to Astana by Air China on April 21, 2023 Photo: Courtesy of Air China

2023年4月21日中国国际航空公司西安至阿斯塔纳航班启动仪式。图片：中国国际航空公司提供

In September of 2022, Kazakhstan announced to set up a Consulate General in Xi'an, making the city an important place to further increase the connection between the two countries.

2022年9月，哈萨克斯坦宣布在西安设立总领事馆，由此西安进一步成为加强两国联系的重要城市。

The route opening is also part of the answers for the aviation industry which gradually increasing international capacity brought by border barrier lifting, Li Xiaojin, an expert via industry news portal carnoc.com told the Global Times on Friday.

周五，行业新闻门户网站carnoc.com的专家李小金告诉《环球时报》，边境壁垒解除带来的国际运力逐渐增加，这条航线开通是航空行业手上部分的解决方案。

Opening the route will enhance the place of Kazakhstan in the BRI, and also build an example for the aviation to further support the BRI, Li added.

李小金补充说，开通该航线将提高哈在一带一路（BRI）的地位，也为航空进一步支持BRI树立了榜样。

Official data showed that the bilateral trade between the two countries has witnessed a fast development in recent years, and the trade has increased from $28.5 billion in 2013 to $31.1 billion in 2022. China has been ranking the second largest trade partner with Kazakhstan for years, and China is also the fifth largest investor country for Kazakhstan.

官方数据显示，近年来两国双边贸易发展迅速，贸易额从2013年的285亿美元增长到2022年的311亿美元。多年来，中国一直是哈萨克斯坦的第二大贸易伙伴，中国也是哈萨克斯坦的第五大投资国。