The direct line between Shanghai and Marseille was inaugurated this morning at Marignane airport. The first Chinese visitors disembarked this morning at 7am.
“Welcome to our Chinese friends, have a good flight and long live Franco-Chinese friendship“. The president of the South region was among the personalities present on the tarmac of Marignane airport to welcome this morning the first direct flight between Shanghai and Marseille with the China Eastern company.
For Renaud Muselier: “My first words go to our Chinese friends. You are welcome in the most beautiful region of Europe! Our territory is beautiful. Our territory is dynamic. Our territory is attractive. Whether the motivation is tourist or commercial, I say to our Chinese friends that you are welcome in the South of France. Last week, we inaugurated the new Terminal 1 of the airport. And today, we are launching the Marseille-Shanghai connection, which is the result of intense promotional work, promotional work that was able to rely on a modernized infrastructure, a gateway that matches the influence and attractiveness of the territory.”.
“A great opportunity”
Following the partnership agreement between the port of Guangzhou and the Grand Port Maritime de Marseille, this line represents a new rapprochement between the two territories.The opening 60 years later, as part of the Franco-Chinese year of cultural tourism, of the direct Marseille-Shanghai link is a wonderful nod to history. I want to encourage our entrepreneurs to seize the wonderful opportunity of a direct link with China, the largest market in the world! China is the second largest economy in the world. It is a major player in world trade with nearly 20% of international trade in 2022“, declared Renaud Muselier.
Marseille Provence Airport is the only regional airport with a direct connection to China. The Chinese airline Shanghai Airlines is now offering 3 direct flights per week between Marseille and Shanghai.
