Li Baochun attends first direct flight from Beijing to Washington D.C.

Li Baochun, vice secretary of the World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF), attended the send-off celebration of first flight between Beijing and Washington D.C., at the invitation of Washington and Air China on June 10.

Air China had a brief, yet grand arrivals ceremony at Washington airport. Cui Tiankai, Chinese ambassador to the US, Terrance McAuliffe, governor of Virginia, and Victor Hoskins, vice mayor of Washington attended the celebration.

Later that day, Air China held a banquet to celebrate the success of the first direct flight at the Chinese Embassy in the US, with more than 200 guests attending, including Vincent C. Gray, mayor of the District of Columbia and ambassador Cui Tiankai.

The WTCF worked hard to facilitate direct flights between Beijing and Washington. The route is expected to facilitate exchanges between China and the US.

Beijing, headquarters of the WTCF, is the initiator of the Federation. Washington, D.C. is a city member of WTCF and Air China is a non-city member.