SHANGHAI, Feb. 17 (Xinhuanet) -- The United Arab Emirates Airlines will launch daily non-stop flights between Beijing and Dubai in the next half year, the company's regional manager has said.

    The company hopes that more Chinese travelers will turn to Emirates Airlines in the future, according to Edwin Lau, Regional Manager for Greater China and North East Asia for the Dubai-based airlines.

    Lau made the remarks at a recent news conference in Shanghai, at which he announced that Emirates Airlines will sponsor the 2006 BMW Asian Open that is to be held in Shanghai between April 20 and 23.

    Emirates Airlines first launched a weekly cargo flight between Dubai and Shanghai on Sept. 15, 2002. Now, the number of cargo flights have reached six a week.

    In March 2004, the company set up a representative office in Shanghai, the first of its kind on the Chinese mainland, and later in April, it opened three passenger flights a week between Shanghai and Dubai. Now, the two cities have been linked by daily non-stop passenger flights.

    Since 2004, Emirates Airlines has been sponsoring the BMW Asian Open, a major golf event in Asia. Enditem