The 23rd Civil Aviation Working Group meeting, under the Transport Sub-committee of the regular meeting committee of the Chinese Premier and Russian Prime Minister, was held from July 23 to 24 in Beijing. Cui Xiaofeng, Deputy Administrator of Civil Aviation Administration of China, and Alexander Yurchik, Deputy Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation co-chaired the meeting and signed an MOU.

Guided by the principle of mutual benefits and win-win progress, and friendly cooperation, the two parties carried out fruitful talks during the meeting, and reached extensive common understandings regarding expansion of air transport arrangements, cooperation in aviation emission reduction, among others. In particular, the two parties agreed to liberate access to the direct air transport market between China’s North-eastern and Inner Mongolian areas and the far east area of Russia, and to allow the two airlines to launch new routes and flights based on the market demands. In such efforts, the two parties expect to promote economic, trade and personnel exchanges in these areas, to further strengthen infrastructure connectivity between China’s North-eastern and Inner Mongolian areas and the far east area of Russia for the building of “Belt and Road” initiative, and to give full reign to the leading role of northern-ward opening up.