Regular flights have resumed between Urumqi, the administrative center of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwest China, and Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan.

The route will be operated once a week on Wednesdays, and the flight will return to Kabul on the same day. Ariana Afghan Airlines is currently the only operator of direct passenger flights between the two countries, Xinhua reports.

The resumption of flights will further improve communication between cities along the Belt and Road, and will also promote cooperation and exchanges between Xinjiang and Kabul in the economy, trade, culture and other areas, the Divopu International Airport in Urumqi said in a statement.

With the resumption of international flights, the number of departing flights from Urumqi to Central and Western Asia and Europe will increase, local aviation authorities said.

ORIENT news