英语新闻丨Chinese carriers allowed to operate more flights to US

The number of passenger flights allowed to be operated by Chinese airlines between China and the United States is set to increase from next month, in the latest step taken to boost direct flight connectivity between the two countries.

从2024年3月开始，中国航空公司允许运营的中美客运航班数量将增加，这是促进两国直航互联互通的最新举措。

The US Department of Transportation said on Monday that from March 31, Chinese carriers could operate a total of 50 round-trip passenger flights a week, up from the current 35.

2024年2月26日，美国交通部(Department of Transportation)表示，从3月31日起，中国航空公司将从目前的每周35架次增加到每周50架次往返客运航班。

The move "is a significant step forward in further normalization of the US-China market in anticipation of the Summer 2024 traffic season", the department said in a statement.

该部门在一份声明中表示，此举“是在2024年夏季交通旺季之前，美中市场进一步正常化的重要一步”。

The increase comes months after President Xi Jinping met with US President Joe Biden in San Francisco in November last year.

继去年11月习近平总书记和美国总统拜登在旧金山会晤的数月后，出现了这一增长。

During the meeting, the leaders agreed to strengthen bilateral dialogue and cooperation in various fields, including significantly increasing flights between the two countries.

在会晤中，两国领导人同意在各领域加强对话与合作，包括大幅增加两国之间的航班。

China and the US have been working to increase the number of passenger flights between the two countries, after it fell sharply following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

中国和美国一直在努力增加两国间的客运航班数量，此前新冠肺炎疫情爆发后，两国间的客运航班数量急剧下降。

In May 2023, the US Department of Transportation allowed Chinese carriers to operate 12 round-trip passenger flights per week. The number was then increased several times, till it reached 35 in November.

2023年5月，美国交通部允许中国航空公司每周运营12个往返客运航班。之后，这个数字又增加了几倍，直到11月达到了35个。

The latest increase to 50 will bring the market to nearly one-third of pre-pandemic levels, according to Reuters, which said more than 150 weekly round-trip passenger flights were allowed by each side before the pandemic hit.

据路透社(Reuters)报道，最新的50次增长将使市场达到疫情前水平的近三分之一。路透社表示，疫情爆发前，双方每周允许往返客运航班超过150架次。

China has called for joint efforts with the US to support and encourage people-to-people exchanges.

中方呼吁与美方共同努力，支持和鼓励双方人与人的交流。

It has also taken a series of measures to attract foreign travelers, including those from the US, over the past months.

在过去的几个月里，中国还采取了一系列措施来吸引包括美国游客在内的外国游客。

Last month, the Chinese embassy and consulates-general in the US simplified the documents which applicants for a tourist visa are required to submit.

上个月，中国驻美国大使馆和总领事馆简化了申请旅游签证所需提交的文件。

bilateral

adj.双边的

dialogue

n. 对话