A cake celebrates China Southern Cargo's launch of its first direct freighter flights between China and the UK. [Photo by Wang Mingjie/China Daily]

"We are delighted China Southern Cargo has selected Stansted as the base for its new UK service. It clearly demonstrates returning confidence in trade between the two countries and is great news for businesses across UK and in particular the eastern region looking to access the Chinese market. This is the culmination of several years of working with the airline and their partners to ensure we deliver this new service," Harrison said.

Zhou Tieying, general manager of China Southern Airlines' London office, believes the new freight service will extend London's reach into a critical market and strengthen China Southern's European freight network, saying: "It will help improve our freight connectivity in Europe and provide yet more variety of products to the local market".

Over the past 24 years Essex County Council has built up a range of civic and economic links with China.

Kevin Bentley, Essex County Council cabinet member for economic growth and infrastructure, welcomed the announcement and said the service will further boost ties between the two countries.

"We welcome news of this new cargo flight to China, the only direct freight link between the UK and China – proof again that Essex means business and is the county to be for business growth. Essex has a long-established special link with China, and this new route will further strengthen it. Essex County Council is seeing increased interest in China from businesses. Exports from the UK to China of traditional and luxury goods and education, plus environmental services and technologies, continue to grow," he said.