MALAYSIA, WUHAN MAY HAVE DIRECT FLIGHTS

From Niam Seet Wei

WUHAN (China), July 23 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province, have agreed to expand cooperation in the field of tourism and plan to have direct flights, Malaysian Tourism Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen said here Wednesday.

She said Wuhan had many significant historical events and was recognised as
the cultural centre of central China, but its geographical position restricted
travel.

"However, tourism between Malaysia and Wuhan could be accelerated with the
opening of direct flights," Dr Ng told reporters after meeting with Chinese
travel agencies here.

Ng said Wuhan, with a population of about eight million, was a potential
tourism market, and expressed the hope that Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia would
cooperate with Chinese travel agencies here in an effort to expand the tourism
market.

Hubei Tourism Administration director Zhang-DaHua said with direct flights
between Wuhan and Malaysia, Malaysian tourists could get to Wuhan and then
proceed to the other famous tourist attractions in China.

Wuhan deputy mayor Dr Yue Yong welcomed Dr Ng's proposal for the direct
flights.
-- BERNAMA