China Southern Airlines on Monday started the first direct flight between Beijing and Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan. This new route is a big step for air travel between China and Central Asia.

The first flight, CZ6051, took off from Beijing Daxing Airport at noon with 173 passengers. It landed in Dushanbe later that day. A Boeing 787 was used for the journey. Future flights will operate with a Boeing 737-8 aircraft. The flight will fly twice a week — on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The flight from Beijing to Dushanbe takes about 7 hours. The return flight takes 6 hours. Before this, travelers between the two cities typically had to connect through Urumqi in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, making total travel time more than 11 hours.

“This new route makes travel easier,” said Qu Guangji, deputy general manager of China Southern Airlines. “It will help trade, tourism, and culture between China and Tajikistan.” Saidzoda Zohir, Tajikistan’s ambassador to China, echoed his opinion. “The new route also offers Chinese travelers easier access to Tajikistan’s unique natural landscapes and historical heritage. Families, students and cultural delegations are expected to build stronger friendships through the expanded air link,” he said. He also added that the flight will bring more business and investment, especially under the Belt and Road Initiative (“一带一路”倡议). 

This summer, China Southern Airlines will open more new international routes, like a Guangzhou-Almaty service on June 25 and Guangzhou-Tashkent on June 30, and a Harbin-Vladivostok route on July 1. These flights will help more people travel and connect with the world.

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1. 1. What is TRUE about the new air route?

A    It means a lot to China and Central Asia.

B    It uses a Boeing 787 for all flights.

C    It flies daily from Beijing to Dushanbe.

D    It takes about 11 hours one way.

2. 2. How much time will travelers save by taking the direct flight?

A    About 1 hour.

B    More than 4 hours.

C    Exactly 7 hours.

D    Less than 11 hours.

3. 3. What does “echoed” mean in the third paragraph?

A    Looked over.

B    Ignored.

C    Agreed with.

D    Questioned.

4. 4. When will the Guangzhou-Tashkent route start?

A    On June 25.

B    On June 30.

C    On July 1.

D    On July 5.

5. 5. What are the new flight routes meant to do?

A    Cut down cost.

B    Train crew members.

C    Test new aircraft.

D    Link up countries.