The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs announced Tuesday the reset of the direct air flights between Manila and Beijing, China, after 15-year suspension in view of the sharply increase of tourism market in China.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo said at a press conference that the non-stop flights run by the Philippine Air Lines (PAL) between two capitals would start on Nov. 11 and fly three times a week to serve Chinese visitors, who are expected to grow to 100 million by 2020.

The PAL suspended this direct flights 15 years ago due to decreased revenues after the last fly to Beijing in 1989.

"The re-opening of direct flights between the two capitals is symbolic and a fitting milestone as the Philippines and China continue to promote and expand our over-all ties in the 30th year of our diplomatic relations," Secretary Alberto Romulo said.

"It is symbolic of the emergence of the new golden age of partnership envisioned by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and President Hu Jintao during his state visit to the Philippines in April this year," Romulo added.

The PAL's non-stop service between Manila and Beijing would save time of Filipino and Chinese tourists and business travelers, who now have to take one-stop flights or transfer connections, usually via Xiamen or Hong Kong.

Romulo said that the resumption of Manila-Beijing non-stop flights is a major breakthrough in efforts of the Philippines to expand aviation links with China, which now include flights to Xiamen, Beijing (via Xiamen), Shanghai, and Guangzhou (charter service).

In addition, Air Philippines is also preparing for the start in October of the regular charter flights between Manila and Chongqing city in central China via Guangzhou.

According to the statistics of the Department of Tourism (DOT), a total of 45,789 tourist arrivals from China in the first six months were recorded, about 150 percent higher than the same period of last year.

The DOT has also projected that China could become the fourth largest source country for tourists to the Philippines by the end of the year, next to the United States, South Korea and Japan.

(Xinhua News Agency September 6, 2005)