Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin is to visit China next week in an effort to boost flights to the UK.
UK and Chinese airlines are limited to 31 return services each week into just six separate destinations, a level that was agreed in 2004.
“There is a lot of demand for flights,” McLoughlin told the Daily Telegraph. “We are very keen to get more visitors here.
“We have had the Chancellor’s announcement on visas. We would like to increase the number of destinations in China as well as more flights to existing destinations. I hope we will be able to make some progress on that.”
He also hopes that agreement could be reached on increasing the number of British airports offering flights to China.
McLoughlin will see China’s high-speed train network, travelling from Beijing to Tianjin, a 75-mile journey lasting just over half an hour, as well as visiting Beijing International airport which will be the biggest in the world when finished.