A new flight connecting Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, with Lhasa, capital of the Tibet autonomous region, took off for the first time on Sept 13.

The airplane, operated by China Eastern Airlines, departed from Urumqi International Airport at 7:30 am and arrived at Lhasa airport at 2:55 pm with a short layover in Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi province.

Zhao Chongjiu, vice-president of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, said that in recent years Xinjiang has developed a closer relationship with Tibet through cooperation in trade and tourism. The new air route will continue to promote the development of both regions.

"The opening of Urumqi-Lhasa airline fills a gap in the connection between the two locations, which supports the development of western China and benefits the local population," said Zhang Zhonghua, head of the CAAC Xinjiang Regional Administration.

Up to now, Xinjiang has opened 224 air routes including routes to 27 international destinations and 68 domestic cities.