Flight attendants at the launch ceremony of the Shenzhen-Mexico City direct flight at the Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport on Saturday. Photos courtesy of China Southern Airlines

Passengers queue to board the inaugural flight bound for Mexico City at the Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport on Saturday.

Passengers queue to board the inaugural flight bound for Mexico City at the Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport on Saturday.

Jesús Seade, Mexico’s ambassador to China, is interviewed at the launch ceremony of the direct flight from Shenzhen to Mexico City at the Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport on Saturday. Han Ximin

Han Ximin

1824295095@qq.com

ON Saturday night, shortly after the inauguration ceremony of a direct flight from Shenzhen to Mexico City, Jesús Seade, Mexico’s ambassador to China, bid farewell to his colleagues and friends in China. He then embarked on the 14,000-kilometer, 16-hour flight to Mexico’s capital.

“The opening of this direct flight has made travel between China and Latin America more efficient and convenient. It has significantly reduced travel time, as flying the other way around is grueling with one or two transfers in Japan, South Korea, North America, or Europe that result in journey times of up to 25-30 hours,” he said during an interview before departing.

Seade regards the opening of the direct flight as a landmark achievement in the annals of bilateral relations between China and Mexico.

“This direct flight is not just a route in the sky; it is a corridor for prosperity, an avenue for business collaboration, and a bridge for cultural exchanges. It marks the beginning of an exciting journey of discovery, understanding, and shared growth,” said Seade.

During a speech at the inauguration ceremony, Seade referred to Shenzhen as an amazing city. While in the city, he served as the associate vice president for global affairs and a professor of management and economics at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen for two years.

“Shenzhen has the advantage of advanced manufacturing, science, and innovation industries, which complement Mexico’s well-developed manufacturing sectors of automobiles, home appliances, electronics, machinery, and construction materials,” said Seade.

He believes that the opening of the route will bring new opportunities for industrial cooperation, economic and trade exchanges, and cultural communication between the two cities.

Since Shenzhen and Mexico City established a friendly exchange relationship in 2015, the economic and trade cooperation between the two cities has been enhanced. Huawei, BYD, and other Shenzhen companies have invested and expanded in Mexico and integrated into the local supply chain.

“Chinese companies participated in the construction of the Mayan Train Project. China’s 5G and cloud technology services are being applied in the Mexican consumer market,” said Seade.

Seade has witnessed the growing interest of Chinese companies in Mexico and their increasing interest to invest there.

With the direct flight, Chinese travelers will have easier access to the urban bustle of Mexico City, the Mayan ruins in the Yucatan, and the sunny beaches of Cancun, among other destinations, he said.

Seade hopes that the new route will increase tourist numbers from Mexico, Latin America, and the Caribbean to Shenzhen and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, allowing visitors to experience China firsthand.