The US is seeking an “open skies” agreement with China similar to the recently agreed US-EU accord.
US Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said she hoped to have a beginning agreement in place next month.
Under the existing U.S.-China aviation agreement that was signed in 2004, the two governments agreed to meet in 2006 to discuss whether a full open-skies deal could be pursued.
“I do believe that we can reach a meaningful agreement by May [when Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi and US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson are scheduled to meet in Washington]. . .and then consummate that agreement, we would hope, by the end of the calendar year,” Peters said, according to the AP.
The two nations reached an accord in three years ago that expanded passenger services and cleared the way for US cargo carriers such as UPS and FedEx to establish air hubs in China without being subject to restrictions. Both plan to have hubs operational next year, with FedEx based in Guangzhou and UPS in Shanghai.
Ms Peters said she wants to see regulatory barriers for passenger services lowered as well. “Demand for nonstop US-China service is there, but unfortunately the supply is not,” she said.
Report by David Wilkening
