Ningxia develops westward logistics focus arising from 'fifth air freedom'

NORTHERN China's Ningxia Autonomous Region plans to exploit opportunities arising from its capital Yinchuan being granted the fifth air freedom, to build an air-rail-road multi-modal logistics network to serve western markets of central Asia, the Middle East and south east Asia, Xinhua reports.

The fifth air freedom allows aircraft of a service to stop at a third country for passenger or cargo transit other than the service's country of departure and arrival.

Ningxia is planning to launch more air cargo services to these markets as well as become one of the key transit hubs for Arabian countries.

The region will also strengthen cross-border road transportation services and seek to develop sea-road and sea-rail intermodal service for the local shippers and those in the neighbouring regions.