LOS ANGELES — A Boeing 787-9 aircraft from China's southern city Shenzhen landed at Los Angeles International Airport Thursday evening, marking the official opening of a direct air route between the two cities.

China's exclusive national carrier, Air China, celebrated the launch of its newest route between the United States and China at Tom Bradley International Terminal of Los Angeles International Airport.

"There is no better time to launch the direct air route between Shenzhen and Los Angeles," Zhang Ping, consul general of the People's Republic of China in Los Angeles, said at a celebration ceremony.

"It will provide convenience for people-to-people exchanges and offer more options for trade and investment cooperation between China and the United States," he added.

"The new nonstop Los Angeles-Shenzhen service brings together two of the world's leading technology and innovation hubs," said Zhihang Chi, Air China's vice president and general manager for North America.

According to Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, the majority of Chinese investment into the United States originates from the Guangdong Province which covers Shenzhen and Guangzhou. Los Angeles has become the first ever US city destination to receive more than one million Chinese visitors in one year in 2016.

The three-time a week service by Air China uses Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. It is the latest expansion in North America by the Chinese carrier.

The new route brings the average of Air China's seasonally adjusted flights to 150 per week between cities throughout North America and China. Since 2013, the company has been launching a new route every year.