The first flight to resume air links between China and Cuba landed in Havana on Friday, with a stopover in Spain.

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner of Air China was received at the Jose Marti International Airport in Havana with a traditional water salute.

Starting with two flights per week, it is hoped that the airline frequency will increase as passenger traffic between the two countries grows.

Also on Friday, Cuba's visa-free policy for Chinese tourists holding ordinary passports came into effect.

The resumption of direct flights and Cuba's visa-free policy for Chinese citizens will provide impetus for the recovery of Cuba's tourism industry, economic and social development, and inject vitality into the people-to-people exchanges between China and the entire Latin American region, Chinese Ambassador to Cuba Ma Hui told China Media Group.

There were no direct flights from China to Cuba in recent years until Air China resumed services through the Beijing-Madrid-Havana route. The air links were suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic.

(With input from Xinhua)