ASEAN seeks more China, India flights
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The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is negotiating a deal with China to scrap restrictions on flights between ASEAN capitals and China, Bloomberg has reported. A Singapore government official said that the move was an effort to expand growing trade with China.
“Between the governments in ASEAN, it’s our job to continue to provide a future, forward-looking, liberal environment that will allow the airlines to plan forward,” said Choi Shing Kwok, Permanent Secretary at Singapore’s Ministry of Transport. Choi added that similar negotiations were being conducted with India, although talks were no as far advanced.
An agreement would give ASEAN-based carriers, including Singapore Airlines, Malaysian Airline and Thai Airways, wider access into China, the world’s second-biggest aviation market after the US. The move would also complement ASEAN’s efforts to boost tourism.
Singapore already has bilateral arrangements with both China and India, and within ASEAN Singapore and Malaysia have liberalised air routes. ASEAN members are still debating a full “open skies” policy to be implemented throughout the region.
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