Round-trip flights will operate three times a week between Shenzhen and Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, from Tuesday.

It is Shenzhen Airlines’ first international passenger route.

The flights take off from Shenzhen at 9:45 a.m. and arrive at Kuala Lumpur at 1:05 p.m. local time Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Return flights on the same days depart Kuala Lumpur at 2:05 p.m. local time reaching Shenzhen at 5:30 p.m.

 “The one-way airfare is set at 4,290 yuan (US$520), but passengers are now able to enjoy a return fare for a little more than 2,000 yuan,” said a Shenzhen Airlines source.

According to a Malaysian small and medium enterprises organization, while many Malaysian companies dealing in oil, chemicals, food and beverages have entered China, many companies dealing in garments, electronics, home appliances, packaging, printing and medical instrument from the Pearl River Delta are developing in Malaysia.

In addition, Malaysia and Guangdong have many exchanges in tourism. “Malaysia is one of the top countries with tourists traveling to Guangdong, while Chinese travelers, including those from Guangdong, constitute a big market for Malaysia,” said a source surnamed Yi with the Shenzhen tourism authority.

(Shenzheni Daily January 18, 2005)