Xiamen Airlines will launch a route between Xiamen of Fujian province and Cebu in the Philippines on March 27, the first in Fujian.
Three round-trip flights will be scheduled each week. The plane will leave Xiamen at 9am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, arrive in Cebu at 11:55 am, and return to Xiamen one hour later.
Xiamen Air has previously opened international routes to Southeast Asian countries including Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia and the Philippines. The new route is an effort by the company to keep pace with China's Belt and Road Initiative.
Cebu, located in the central Philippines, is one of the most developed areas in the country as well as a famous Southeast Asian tourist site.
China announced and implemented on May 15 a policy allowing visa-free entry of foreign tourist groups aboard cruise ships via all cruise ship ports along the country's coastline.
China and Georgia are set to waive visa requirements for travelers starting May 28.