Tatarstan and China must work on the issue of launching a direct flight between the republic's capital Kazan and Urumqi, the capital of China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which will have a positive impact on economic ties and tourism, the head of Tatarstan's Investment Development Agency Taliya Minullina said at the 2nd International Forum Rostki: Russia and China - Mutually Beneficial Cooperation.

"In Soviet times there was a direct flight from Kazan to Urumqi. Of course, if we could revive it, we would have better business and tourism. Because Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has a very serious tourism potential, and so does Tatarstan. And we could develop both economically and in business if we had direct air links. <...> I would like to have direct flights, this story should be worked out together," said Minullina.

There are flights from Kazan to Shanghai. Direct flights will start in September 2024. Xiang Bo, Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Kazan, noted that the opening of this flight is an important incentive for expanding cooperation between the parties.