Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Ao Man-long, and the vice minister of the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China, Bao Peide, signed a protocol of aviation Monday on behalf of the two parties.

Chief Executive Edmund Ho witnessed the signing ceremony held at Government headquarters.

Mr. Ao said that the support of the Central Government enabled the Macau International Airport to develop substantially and played an important role in Macau's economy. He added that in the line of protocol, 16 air links would be increased to 31, with more weekly flights. This changes the air transportation ratio between Macau and the Mainland X from 2:1 to 1:1.

Mr. Bao pointed out that the protocol marked a new era in the air transport industry between Macau and the Mainland, adding that it would also facilitate economic development between the two places. Currently, five inland airlines, China Southwest, China Northwest, Yunnan, Xangai and Xiamen Airlines, plus Air Macau, operatex a total of 85 inland flights from Macau to other cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Kunming, Xian, Shanghai, Xiamen, Fuzhou, Nanjing, Guilin and Qindao. In addition, charter flights are operated from Macau to Chengdu, Haikou and Ningbo.