California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said Tuesday that he favored a proposal for non-stop air services to China from two major Californian cities.

 

Schwarzenegger made the remarks after United Airlines submitted an application to the US Department of Transportation Monday to add daily, non-stop services from San Francisco and Los Angeles to China in 2008 and 2009.

 

"China's more than 1 billion citizens represent an important market for Californian products and services," Schwarzenegger said in a statement e-mailed to Xinhua.

 

"United Airlines' proposal to add a daily, non-stop service between our state and China is a great opportunity to promote California tourism and pump up our state's economy," said the governor.

 

"Direct flights between California and China will only have a positive impact on our state and I look forward to working with United Airlines in the future as we continue to strengthen our economic ties with this important Pacific Rim partner," he added.

 

United Airlines' application proposes a non-stop service between San Francisco and Guangzhou in 2008, and a daily non-stop service between Los Angeles and Shanghai in 2009.

 

In 2006, exports from California to China totaled almost 10 billion dollars, up from 5.5 billion dollars in 2003 when the governor took office, according to the statement.

 

California is the number one U.S. state in terms of total exports to China and the top exports include computers and electronic products, waste and scrap materials, transportation equipment and heavy machinery.

 

(Xinhua News Agency July 19, 2007)