Prospects promising for cooperation with Africa

The year 2007 started on a very promising note for China-Africa cooperation. Just before the start of the new year, a wide-body Airbus A330 left Capital International Airport in Beijing for Muritala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, Nigeria.

It was the start of direct flights between China and Africa, a significant step in the 50-year China-Africa bilateral relationship.

The China Southern Airlines, now operates three flights a week between Beijing and Lagos, with a brief stopover in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The other operational direct routes between Africa and China are Addis Ababa-Beijing by Ethiopian Airlines and Johannesburg-Beijing by South African Airways.