India gives security clearance to Chinese cargo carrier

Beijing: India has given security clearance to cargo flights by China's Great Wall Airlines to Mumbai and Chennai, which could pave the way for Beijing to allow Indian carriers to commence operations to various Chinese destinations.
New Delhi's move, which came as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh began his official visit to China, is expected to encourage Beijing to grant long-pending clearance to Air India and Jet Airways to launch flights to Chinese cities of Guangzhou and Shanghai respectively. Air India already operates to Shanghai.
India had earlier offered Great Wall Airlines the right to operate to Delhi as a point of call instead of the two Indian metros, which was not accepted by the Chinese side.
India had taken the stand in the wake of blacklisting of the carrier by the United States for its alleged involvement in transfer of missile technology to Iran.
As a result of the American decision, the Chinese cargo carrier had folded up operations for six months.
Following denial of Indian permission, China also held up clearance to Air India to operate to Guangzhou and premier private carrier Jet Airways to fly to San Fransisco via Shanghai.
14/01/08 PTI/The Hindu

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Categories: cargo Jan 2008, Foreign Jan 2008, New Jan 2008