Representatives for the Guangzhou city government, the Guangdong Airport Authority (GAA) and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport pose for a group photo during the 2017 World Routes Conference in Barcelona, Spain, on Sept. 26, 2017. Guangzhou took over from Barcelona on Tuesday as the host city for the aviation fair 2018 World Routes Conference. The World Routes is the global meeting place for airlines, airports and aviation stakeholders. (Xinhua/Guo Qiuda)
BARCELONA, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Guangzhou took over from Barcelona on Tuesday as the host city for the aviation fair 2018 World Routes Conference after an event held in the Spanish city.
Representatives for the Guangzhou city government and the Guangdong Airport Authority (GAA) attended the ceremony highlighting Guangzhou's geographical location, industry momentum, infrastructure and innovation.
The World Routes is the global meeting place for airlines, airports and aviation stakeholders.
Diao Ailin, official with the Guangzhou Municipal government, said the city "is at a turning point in our aviation development as we become a steadily more international transportation and logistics hub".
"By hosting the next year's World Routes conference we can continue to help foster sound, innovative growth and development that benefits stakeholders industry-wide," Diao said.
"As we strive to build new bridges in the air, the World Routes to be held in Guangzhou serves as a way to build even more bridges between leaders and executives in Spain and Guangzhou," he said.
This year in Barcelona, more than 3,000 delegates of 350 airlines and 1,000 airports of the world have participated in the 2-day event.
