Wang Mingyuan, vice-president of Air China, said Air China will soon open two flights to Africa, a move that will extensively boost China-Africa exchanges. With the move, Air China becomes the first Chinese airline to have global coverage.

The Beijing-Johannesburg route will start operation Thursday, linking the capital with the largest city in South Africa.

The flight between Beijing and Addis Ababa, capital city of Ethiopia, will take off on Nov 2.

The Beijing-Johannesburg flight is equipped with a Boeing 777-300ER and departs from Beijing for Johannesburg every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday, and returns eery Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The Beijing-Addis Ababa flight, equipped with an Airbus 330-200, sets out from Beijing every Monday, Thursday, and Saturday with returns later that day.

South Africa is China's largest trade partner on the African continent. Ethiopia headquarters the African Union.

Wang concluded his statement by saying Air China’s new China-Africa flight schedule facilitates people-to-people exchanges and helps Chinese enterprises' taps into the African market.