Russia’s Volga-Dnepr Group has linked up with China’s Henan Airport Group and Zhongyuan Asset Management to create a “trans-Siberian air bridge” as part of China’s ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative.
The three parties have signed a framework agreement on long-term strategic co-operation.
Aleksey Isaikin, president of Volga-Dnepr Group, spoke of a tri-partite determination “to make a notable contribution to strengthening co-operation between Russia and China through the creation of a mutually beneficial trans-Siberian air bridge within the scope of the unprecedented ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative.”
Volga-Dnepr Group is the largest Russian freighter operator, including a fleet of Antonov and Boeing aircraft, and also has extensive experience in the Chinese market.
Added Isaikin: “The potential advantages of Zhengzhou were obvious to us right from the beginning. Notably its advantageous geographical location and the existence of the Zhengzhou Airport Economic Comprehensive Experimental Zone, which boasts a positive development trend.
“This Experimental Zone is the first and only one in China, and its development is supported by the Chinese government.”
The ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative, which the signed agreement is now part of, was announced by the President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping in 2013.
It is aimed at developing a new international co-operation model with the participation of China, including the creation of trans-regional transportation and investment infrastructure. Russia is one of the most important strategic partners of the initiative.
Zhongyuan Asset Management Co was established in 2015 with the approval of the People’s Government of Henan province and bases itself upon serving the implementation of the national strategy of the Zhengzhou Airport Economic Comprehensive Experimental Zone.
Volga-Dnepr Group first commenced air charter flights to China in the 1990s. When the group launched AirBridgeCargo Airlines (ABC) in 2004, its first scheduled freighter services were to China.
ABC was the first foreign cargo carrier to begin operating to Zhengzhou Airport. The airline and Zhengzhou have since established a strong partnership and, today, ABC operates daily Boeing 747 all-cargo flights to the airport.
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