The first flight from Ulan Bator, the Mongolian capital, to Hailar in China's Inner Mongolia region took off here on Wednesday, marking the opening of the third air route between China and Mongolia.

"I believe this air route would promote the exchanges and cooperation between the two countries and enrich bilateral relations," said Yu Hongyao, the Chinese ambassador to Mongolia.

Bilateral relations between China and Mongolia have improved in recent years, he said.

According to G. Davaa, director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Mongolia, the opening of the new air route was based on stronger cooperation between the two countries. He expressed the hoped that the air route would be a new bridge between the two nations.

The flight, run by Mongolia's EZNIS Airways, takes about three hours via Choibalsan, a city in east Mongolia. EZNIS has mostly operated domestic flights.

Previously, there were two air routes between Mongolia and China, linking Ulan Bator and Beijing, and Ulan Bator and Hohhot.

(Xinhua News Agency August 5, 2009)