Australia-China air links take off

China says new air links will boost investment opportunities for Australian companies in the world's fastest growing city.

Australians will have greater access to the world's fastest growing city in southwestern China before Christmas.

Chinese airline Sichuan will launch twice-weekly non-stop flights between Chongqing and Sydney on December 20.

Earlier this year, Sichuan opened direct flights between Melbourne and another burgeoning Chinese city, Chengdu - home to a popular Giant Panda breeding and research centre.

Chongqing Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Commission officials told AAP they are expecting direct flights to and from Sydney to galvanise Australian business investment in Chongqing.

"There will be more visitors and investors come to Chongqing," the Commission's investment spokesman Harry Liu said.

"We have seen growth in investment from Australia but compared to other OECD countries like the US, Germany, France, Japan and South Korea the investment from Australia in Chongqing needs more promotion."

He said 69 Australian companies had been approved in Chongqing so far.

Commission trade spokesman Alan Gao said there was also great potential for more Chinese enterprises to tap into the Aussie market.

He said Chongqing's construction companies were particularly eager to invest and build infrastructure in Australia.

Chongqing is a large industrial and commercial city in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River with an economic growth rate that outstrips the rest of the country.

It is the world's fastest growing city, with an annual average GDP growth rate of more than 10 per cent.

Chongqing's municipality is home to more than 30 million people and its key industries include car, motorcycle, machinery and computer manufacturing and petroleum and natural gas chemistry.


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Source: AAP


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