The route comes as trade, travel and people-to-people exchanges between China and the UK continue to grow. Fujian has a large overseas Chinese community in Britain, while many students from the province study in the UK. The new service is expected to make travel for business, education and family visits more convenient.
Xiamen has long looked outward. Located on the Taiwan Strait, the coastal city has grown through maritime trade and international commerce. Its port, airport and manufacturing industries connect it with markets across Asia and beyond. The city is also part of the wider Minnan cultural region, whose traditions and overseas connections extend across Southeast Asia.
