All Nippon Airlines’ Chengdu-Tokyo direct flight will be opened on June 20th. Chengdu is the eleventh city in China and the first city in inland area that the company opens direct flight in. From May 22nd to 24th, Shinichiro Ito, president of ANA, led his 5-member delegation to visit Sichuan. Sichuan vice governor Li Chengyun met with Shinichiro Ito in Chengdu on May 23rd.

　　The world top 500 ANA is the largest airlines in Japan and one of the largest airlines in Asia which has long kept good cooperative relation with China. After the “5.12” Wenchuan Earthquake, ANA offered for free Boeing 747 chartered plane to transport emergency relief goods for Sichuan.

　　Li Chengyun introduced the conditions of Sichuan’s post-disaster reconstruction and economic and social development to Shinichiro Ito and expressed gratitude to Japan’s aid for quake-hit areas. He said that in recently years, the import and export trade between Sichuan and Japan has enjoyed fast growth. The two sides communicate frequently and the number of tourists to Japan is increasing. To open direct flight has great meaning.

　　Shinichiro Ito said that Sichuan has abundant tourism resource. To open direct flight will not only benefit tourists but will boost economic exchange and cooperation between Sichuan and Japan. He said they are now preparing for matters concerning the opening of direct flight. 
 

• May 26th, 2011