Portugal’s Government has invited Chinese air carrier Hainan Airlines to launch a direct flight between the two countries, reported Portuguese economic news outlet Dinheiro Vivo.

It would mean the re-establishment of a route once operated by the former state-owned Portuguese airline TAP, now known as TAP Portugal.

Speaking to Portuguese legislators on Wednesday, Portugal’s Minister of Economy, Pires de Lima, said the Government is “actively working” so that Portugal would have direct flight connections to China, as well as to Mexico, as these two countries had shown interest in such initiatives.

“In the case of China, [a direct flight connection] would be very important not only from the economic perspective, but also for the tourism sector”, the Minister told the legislators.

According to Dinheiro Vivo, Mr de Lima wrote on Monday to the Chairman of the Board of Hainan Airlines stressing Portugal’s strategic importance as a transport hub to Africa and Brazil.

The Minister argued that TAP Portugal could eventually have “more chances to grab such an opportunity in the future”, if it gets “stronger” and acquires more aircraft.

Last week, José Maria Ricciardi, President of Portuguese investment bank BESI, argued Portugal ought to have direct flights to China. Such a move, he said, would contribute to the development of Lisbon as an air transport centre.