US official urges open skies agreement between China, US

The assistant secretary of the US Department of Transportation urged the liberalization of the air transport market between China and the US to boost economic development. Speaking at the Civil Aviation Flight University of China on April 27, Andrew Steinberg of the DOT Aviation and International Affairs, pointed out that air transport is enhancing the links between countries at an unprecedented rate. The opening of China’s air transport market will promote the economic development of southwest China area, and will enhance the economic relationship between China and the US. China and the US have been in talks for an open skies agreement. Steinberg said China can take a cue from the open skies agreement between the US and Europe. He said US airlines currently operate 55 daily flights directly to Germany, but there are only 11 direct flights to China. He said US airlines are already dissatisfied with the current situation and urgently need to increase flight volume. The China-US talks on April 25 to 27 in Chengdu were in preparation for the ministerial open skies agreement negotiation.