A Portuguese official has said his government wants to increase direct air services between Portugal and China, Lusa reports.

The Portuguese news agency quotes Secretary of State for Internationalisation Eurico Brilhante Dias as telling a business forum in Lisbon that the resumption of flights between Beijing and Lisbon in 2019 was “an important moment” and “of great political and diplomatic significance”.

Now his government wants more frequent flights between the two capitals and air services between Portugal and other cities in China, he said.

Beijing Capital Airlines of China began in August a thrice-weekly return service between Lisbon and Beijing via the central Chinese city of Xi’an, having abandoned in October 2018 its service between the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou and Lisbon via Beijing.