A protocol has been signed to organize the Irkutsk Manchuria flight

Irkutsk Airport, Manchuria authorities and the Chinese Consulate General in Irkutsk signed a memorandum to launch the Irkutsk Manchuria flight. The sides agreed to form a working group and exchange experience, and hope to speed up the needed interstate agreements. The initiative is especially relevant amid growing trade, tourism and business flows between Russia and China.

FSUE “Irkutsk Airport,” the People’s Government of Manzhouli City, and the Consulate General of the PRC in Irkutsk signed a memorandum of intent for active cooperation with the aim of organizing the Irkutsk–Manzhouli flight. This was reported by the press service of Irkutsk Airport.
The issue of organizing direct air service between Irkutsk and Manzhouli was discussed during a visit by a Manzhouli delegation to Irkutsk Airport. The meeting was attended by Tian Xueming, Deputy Mayor of the People’s Government of Manzhouli; a consul of the Consulate General of the PRC; the Deputy Head of the Manzhouli People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of the PRC in Irkutsk; as well as representatives of FSUE “Irkutsk Airport.”
The need to establish air service between Irkutsk and Manzhouli has been pressing for a long time: the volumes of trade, tourist, and business flows between these cities in particular, and Russia and the PRC as a whole, are constantly increasing. More than 2 million Russian citizens visit Manzhouli every year. But in fact, the organization of the flight became possible only in February 2009—after Manzhouli Airport received international status.
During the visit of the Manzhouli delegation to Irkutsk Airport, the parties decided to create a special working group to organize the flight and intend to exchange experience in matters of ground handling of aircraft. In addition, by the end of March of this year, FSUE “Irkutsk Airport” will send a request to the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation asking for assistance in the earliest possible signing of the necessary agreement between the state aviation authorities of China and Russia.