BEIJING -- China's civil aviation regulator has released a document aimed at optimizing the business environment in the sector, which specifies directions for fostering a fair and transparent market.

The document, issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China, details implementation rules of a regulation issued in October 2019, which signals a milestone in China's bid to explore institutional improvement for a better business environment.

It pledges to provide wider market access by implementing unified negative lists for market access across the country, as well as protection to all market entities to ensure they can make equal use of market resources.

Foreign-funded civil aviation projects, except for those on the negative list for foreign investment market access, should be treated on the same footing as other types of enterprises, said the document.

The document also clarifies measures to improve government services such as electronic certificates and business licenses, information sharing and transparency of administrative work.

China's air traffic has been steadily recovering since late February, with the number of flights jumping to 6,586 per day as of April 21, exceeding 40 percent of the volume of the same period a year ago.