China's flag carrier has opened a commercial office in Cuba, aimed at boosting tourism and trade. Air China's Havana service is the only direct flight between Beijing and the Caribbean. CGTN's Michael Voss has this report. China's ambassador to Cuba joined the general in charge of Cuba's civil aviation authority for the official ribbon cutting ceremony. The new Air China office in Havana, marks the latest stage in the ever closer ties between Cuba and China.

 

CHEN XI CHINA'S AMBASSADOR TO CUBA "This direct flight has played an important role in facilitating personal exchanges between Cubans and Chinese and also with Latin America. It has also contributed a lot to the development of cooperation in different areas." Air China's inaugural direct flight to Havana was in December 2015. Since then, some 24 thousand passengers, of different nationalities have used the service. There is a stopover in Montreal and much of its business is serving the large Chinese community on the east coast of Canada. It also provides competition with Air Canada for the Cuban leg of the journey.

 

MICHAEL VOSS HAVANA The is a small but growing number of Chinese tourists coming here but there is also a considerable number of businessmen looking for opportunities in Cuba. Wang Zheng is a Havana-based travel agent specializing in Chinese businessmen and trade delegations. Last year, he dealt with some eight thousand visitors from China. He also organizes tourist guides to take them around in their free time. Cultural sights like the house of the late American author Ernest Hemingway are popular as are visits to see the cigar factories where workers still hand roll every cigar. But what many Chinese visitors also want to discover is Cuba's revolutionary heritage.

 

WANG ZHENG LUZ TOURS "The Cuban revolution is really significant for us. Many Chinese want to go to the Museum of the Revolution, the University of Havana, the history and legends of Fidel and the continuing struggle of the Cuban people. This has always been part of the Chinese tourist program." Until these direct Air China flights most visitors flew with Aeroflot or Air France, changing planes in Moscow or Paris. By opening a commercial office in Cuba, Air China is raising the flag in what remains a competitive market. Michael Voss CGTN Havana.