1st charters bound from Moscow to Taipei to depart on Saturday

The first Taipei-bound charter of the China Airlines will arrive at Domodedovo airport of Moscow at 05.25 p.m., Moscow time, on Saturday, August 24th.

This information has been disclosed by the Moscow-Taipei Coordination Commission for Economic and Cultural Cooperation. The aircraft will make a two-hour stop at a Domodedovo terminal and set out back for Taipei at 07.25 p.m., Moscow time.

In a week, on August 1st, a charter of the Russian Transaero Airlines will fly out from Moscow to Taipei. On September 1st, the aircraft will fly back to Russia.

According to the Moscow-Taipei Commission, charter communication has been established in compliance with an agreement concluded between Transaero and China Airlines in October 2000.

A source in the Commission also reported that the authorities concerned were considering an idea to establish regular flights bound from Moscow to Taipei.

As has previously been reported by the Information and Press Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, charter flights bound from Moscow to Taipei shall not be considered Russia's official recognition of Taiwan's independence. These flights "shall only be regarded as an unofficial commercial air traffic targeted at enhancing unofficial bilateral trade, economic, cultural and tourist link to Taiwan." The Russian Foreign Ministry has taken a principal stand that "there is only one China, while the government of the People's Republic of China is the only legitimate representative enjoying the right to speak on behalf of China." The Russian Foreign Ministry laid emphasis on the fact that the Russian side had held all necessary consultations with China prior to establishing air communications with Taiwan.