Working together: Dr Wee having a chat with Jimenez at the reception in Montreal. Malaysia and Spain are mutually supporting each other in the quest to seek re-election into the ICAO Council.
PETALING JAYA: Flights between Malaysia and China will be increased to 30 weekly, says Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.Following a recent bilateral meeting with China Civil Aviation Administration deputy administrator Cui Xiao Feng at the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada, Dr Wee said both countries share a common interest for the recovery of the civil aviation market.
“In our meeting that lasted almost an hour, we exchanged views on several aviation-related issues.
“Flight frequency between Malaysia and China will soon be increased to 30 flights per week, which only made up 6.7% of the total flights between the two countries and this provides ample room for the increase of flights.
“Before the pandemic, there were about 450 flights operating between the two countries.
“We need to foster better working relationships to gradually increase the number of flights,” he said on his Facebook page yesterday.
Dr Wee said China has been Malaysia’s largest trade partner since 2009, and has remained so for the past 13 years.
“With the recovery of trade activities, the business communities from China and Malaysia are eager to resume travelling between the two destinations.
“The recovery of civil aviation in the Asia Pacific region is very much dependent on the Chinese market, which contributes to 20% of the global market pre-pandemic.
“I am glad to know that travel restrictions for international flights will be eased in stages.
“Cui also expressed China’s willingness to communicate further to increase flight frequency based on needs and demands,” he said.
In a separate post, he said Malaysia will also be working with Spain as both countries seek re-election into the ICAO council.
“Malaysia and Spain are mutually supporting each other in our quests to seek re-election into the ICAO council,” said Dr Wee following a chat with Spain’s Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda Minister Raquel Sanchez Jimenez at their reception.
He also met Canadian Transport Minister Omar Alghabra and attended the Italian reception where he expressed gratitude for the friendship and support from counterparts around the world.
Dr Wee is in Montreal, representing Malaysia at the 41st session of ICAO, which started on Tuesday.
