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International SOS and Deer Jet jointly announced the formation of a strategic partnership recently in Beijing for the launch of their SOS Air Rescue project, which will be China's first dedicated air-ambulance service.

Deer Jet, a subsidiary of Hainan Airlines Group in South China, has dedicated a Hawker 800XP to International SOS as a flying hospital to provide business travellers and tourists in China and other Asia-Pacific countries and regions with aero-medical evacuation services.

The service will be available 24 hours a day.

The flying range of the Hawker aircraft will enable SOS to easily provide services as far afield as the Korean Peninsula, Japan, Mongolia and Singapore.

John Williams, managing director of International SOS China, said the increasing numbers of foreign business people and travellers coming to China make it mandatory to provide them with high-standard medical care.

"SOS air rescue services will make it possible for people to reach centres of medical excellence or medical destinations of their choice rapidly," he said.

Tu Zhizheng, chairman of Deer Jet, said the project demonstrates the rapid development of Chinese society.

"Through our co-operation, we are now able to provide both Chinese citizens and foreigners with professional air rescue services. A few years ago, this would have sounded like a fairy tale," Tu said.

Tu said the Hawker 800XP has been painted with the SOS logo, and is stationed in Beijing for urgent rescue missions.

Charles Van Reeven, medical director of International SOS in China, said the usual practice of the SOS Air Rescue service will proceed as follows:

When SOS receives a call for assistance on its China 24-hour alarm system for urgent medical assistance, SOS doctors will first provide appropriate advice and arrange for immediate evacuation to the nearest hospital for treatment.