PHNOM PENH - A Chinese airline will launch its direct flights from Haikou city of South China's Hainan province to Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh and Siem Reap city from later this month.

Luo Baoming, secretary of the Hainan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, unveiled the plan during a meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh on Wednesday, according to Eang Sophalleth, a personal assistant to the prime minister.

Luo said Hainan wanted to increase cooperation with Cambodia in all fields, especially economics, trade, investment, tourism, education, health, and culture.

"In response, the prime minister welcomed the upcoming direct flights between Hainan province and Cambodia, saying that air connectivity was very important to further promote people-to-people relations," said Eang Sophalleth.

Meanwhile, Hun Sen expressed his profound gratitude to the government and people of China for supporting Cambodia in socio-economic development.