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Japan, China agree to cooperate on Tokyo-Shanghai flights
2006-12-03
Japan and China have reaffirmed their cooperation on a plan to start allowing chartered flights between Tokyo's Haneda airport and Shanghai's Hongqiao airport, Japanese Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Tetsuzo Fuyushiba said Sunday. Fuyushiba said that he and Chinese officials including State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan agreed in a series of talks on Saturday and Sunday to overcome legal and technical obstacles that currently stand in the way of linking the two airports that are primarily used for domestic flights. "We place importance on this issue as being symbolic" of projects aimed at boosting tourism between the two countries, Fuyushiba told a press conference. The plan is part of an agreement reached between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao during Abe's visit to China in October. The two countries are aiming to increase the total number of people traveling between them to 5 million or more in 2007, the 35th anniversary of the normalization of bilateral relations. Currently, Japanese visitors to China far outnumber Chinese people who travel to Japan, with the figures last year standing at 3.39 million and 650,000 respectively. But Chinese visitors to Japan have risen this year to 850,000, Fuyushiba said, adding he hopes the figure next year will reach 1.3-1.4 million.
Japan war shrine to 'soften' China exhibits (2006-12-19)China says ties with Japan at "new starting point" (2006-12-03)Japan, China agree to cooperate on Tokyo-Shanghai flights (2006-12-03)Movement reportedly seen at N.Korea site (2006-10-28)Next UN chief in China to discuss NKorea nuclear crisis (2006-10-27)
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