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Tatarstan seeks to launch direct flight with China's Urumqi

The republic and China must develop a plan to launch a direct flight between Kazan and Urumqi, which will have a positive impact on economic relations and tourism, said the head of the Investment Development Agency of Tatarstan Taliya Minullina

KAZAN, 14 November. /TASS/. Tatarstan and China must work on the issue of launching a direct flight between the republic's capital Kazan and Urumqi, the capital of China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which will have a positive impact on economic ties and tourism, the head of Tatarstan's Investment Development Agency Taliya Minullina said at the 2nd International Forum Rostki: Russia and China - Mutually Beneficial Cooperation.

"In Soviet times there was a direct flight from Kazan to Urumqi. Of course, if we could revive it, we would have better business and tourism. Because Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has a very serious tourism potential, and so does Tatarstan. And we could develop both economically and in business if we had direct air links. <...> I would like to have direct flights, this story should be worked out together," said Minullina.

There are flights from Kazan to Shanghai. Direct flights will start in September 2024. Xiang Bo, Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Kazan, noted that the opening of this flight is an important incentive for expanding cooperation between the parties.

The International Forum Rostki: Russia and China - Mutually Beneficial Cooperation will be held in Kazan on 13-15 November. The forum's business program includes 70 sessions on trade, investment, technology, logistics, petrochemicals, agriculture, education, tourism and other topics. More than 10,000 participants are expected to attend the event, including representatives from 69 Russian regions and 26 China's administrative divisions. The Forum will also host the Russia China Expo international exhibition and will offer an extensive cultural program to all participants.

TASS is the general information partner of the forum.

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