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China Eastern Airlines (CEA) has launched cargo services between Bangladesh and China and is developing more holiday packages for Bangladeshi tourists.

"The newly launched cargo services between Bangladesh and Chinaby CEA have great potential," Country Manager of CEA Ben Lee told Xinhua on Friday.

Earlier, cargoes carried by aircraft have to be transported viaHong Kong and it took about four hours from Dhaka to Hong Kong he said. "But now the new cargo route between Dhaka and Kunming only takes two hours."

The incoming cargoes contain computer and textile accessories, electronic goods, fabrics and fruits, Lee said, adding that CEA isnow making efforts to develop cargo market as very few businessmen know about its new services and consignees in China haven't yet been aware of it.

Meanwhile, CEA plans to further introduce China's tourism resources, developing more holiday packages while offering low price to Bangladeshi tourists.

"Kunming, the capital of southern Yunnan province which has a lot of tourism resources, should not only be an airline transfer station, but become a tourist destination for Bangladeshi people," he said.

Besides Kunming, there are a few small townships with historic, cultural and religious significance within 30 to 60 minutes flight-time.

The airlines is planning to offer packages connecting to these tourist areas from Dhaka at around 400 dollars, Lee said.

He also said CEA is now offering its winter promotional fare atonly 210 dollars on its Dhaka-Kunming-Dhaka route and the airline shifts have been added to five every week from three.

By adding only another 10 dollars, a passenger could fly either to Hong Kong or other Chinese destinations. And by adding another 60 dollars, a traveler could fly to Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur from Kunming, he said.

CEA, one of the major carrier in China and owned by the government, has made 125 million US dollars in profit during 2004-05.