China - March 22, 2025 Storyline: New direct flight launched between Beijing, Oslo [Voice_over] A direct flight operated by Hainan Airlines between Beijing and Oslo takes off. By linking the two capital cities, the new air bridge aims to boost travel and communication between China and Norway. [Sound_bite] Zhang Naifu, Deputy Director, Sales and Marketing Department, Hainan Airlines: "The Oslo route makes its maiden flight this Saturday, with three round-trip flights per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The flight time is around ten hours. This is currently the only direct flight linking Beijing and Oslo in China." [Sound_bite] Henning Kristoffersen, Commercial Counsellor, Norwegian Embassy in Beijing: "I think it has great significance, you know, this shortens the distance between our two countries and I think it will increase very much the traveling both from Norway to China, and of course for Chinese travelers to Norway. So the exchanges in different areas will only increase I think." [Voice_over] Oslo is the capital and biggest city in Norway, serving as the political, economic and cultural center as well as the country's biggest port. It's also the seat of the Norwegian royal family and government. [Stand_up] You Yang, Reporter: "Norway was the first Nordic nation to be granted visa-free access to China. And last November, the first foreign visitor who came to China under the visa-free policy was actually from Norway." [Sound_bite] Henning Kristoffersen, Commercial Counsellor, Norwegian Embassy in Beijing: "I think everything is going in the right direction. Visa-free means a lot because the whole process of traveling becomes so much easier. You can (go) quicker through the whole process but also in combination with this direct flight, I think that's a massive improvement." [Voice_over] Since last November, China has expanded its visa-free policies, granting access to a wider range of countries while attracting more and more foreign visitors to the country. Data released by the National Bureau of Statistics says more than 20 million international visitors have entered China under visa-free policies since last year, an increase of more than 110-percent year on year. Starting this Spring, more Chinese airlines have either opened or resumed international flights. That includes China Southern Airlines, which plans to operate seven international and regional routes including flights between Wuhan and both London and Dubai. China Eastern Airlines will also launch a flight linking Qingdao and Osaka. [Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland]