Wen Wei (L), general manager of China Southern Airlines' Istanbul office, delivers a speech during a meeting with travel and marketing agencies in Istanbul, Turkey, on Dec 18, 2015. In face of growing people-to-people exchanges between China and Turkey, China Southern Airlines said here Friday it will take more measures in 2016 to better serve those traveling on the Istanbul-Urumqi-Beijing line.[Photo/Xinhua]

In face of growing people-to-people exchanges between China and Turkey, China Southern Airlines said here Friday it will take more measures in 2016 to better serve those traveling on the Istanbul-Urumqi-Beijing line.

Steps being considered include opening a direct flight from Istanbul to Beijing, streamlining procedures and boosting capacity to serve transfer passengers on the Beijing-Guangzhou-Urumqi route, and better in-flight catering will be provided from Jan 1, said Wen Wei, general manager of the airliner's Istanbul office.

China became Turkey's third largest trading partner and second largest source of imports in 2014, according to Fu Weina, China's vice consul general in Istanbul.

The year 2015 has seen a sharp rise in Chinese tourist arrivals after Turkey eased their application for electronic visas, and the number is expected to increase further to 350,000 in the coming year, Fu said.

"People-to-people exchanges have played an important role in promoting China-Turkey strategic cooperation," she said.

She added the Southern Airlines has done its part in driving the growth of trade, tourism and logistics between China and Turkey, contributing significantly to the "Air Silk Road" being built by both countries.