The Dominican Republic and the People’s Republic of China now have an Aviation Services Agreement (ASA) covering a wide range of aviation topics. The document was signed following two days of negotiations on 11 and 12 October 2018 at the Civil Aviation Board (JAC) offices in Santo Domingo.
On Friday, 12 October, Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas signed the agreement on behalf of the Dominican Republic. Previously, the agreement had been signed by the deputy manager of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), Wang Zhiqing, who served as the chief negotiator for China and Ernesto Camilo, director of the JAC in the Dominican Republic. The final signing of the aviation agreement will actually take place in Beijing in November 2018, when President Danilo Medina meets China President Xi Jinping.
“With this agreement we establish the air interconnectivity to ease the long journey between our countries. Wee consider this a fundamental factor to progress in our relations in the field of tourism, trade, culture, among others,” said Minister Miguel Vargas, during the signing ceremony held in the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Relations, in the presence of the Chinese ambassador Zhang Run.
Prior to the signing, Luis Ernesto Camilo, president of the Civil Aviation Board (JAC) and Zhiqing had signed a Memorandum of Understanding whereby the Dominican Republic and the People’s Republic of China express interest in developing commercial aviation.
Zhiquing head a Chinese delegation made up also by executives of Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines. As part of the talks, local aviation company executives from Air Century, Sky High Aviation and Dominican Wings/Fly Cana, presented their companies and expansion plans to the Chinese aviation executives.
The Dominican Republic’s very open skies policy is seen as the backbone to the successful development of the tourism industry in the country.
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JAC
16 October 2018
