A photo taken on January 6, 2021 shows airplanes of EgyptAir at Cairo airport's tarmac. [Photo/VCG]

EgyptAir flight MS951 was welcomed with a water salute at Shanghai Pudong International Airport on Thursday, according to the Shanghai Airport Authority.

This was the first direct flight between Egypt and Shanghai. The launch of the new flight between Shanghai and the Egyptian capital of Cairo is the Shanghai Airport Authority's latest effort to accelerate international flight recovery to support the Belt and Road initiative.

The new flight is expected to promote people-to-people exchanges, as well as economic and trade between China and Africa.

EgyptAir will operate flights from Shanghai to Cairo every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday (local time). The flight return to Shanghai from Cairo will depart every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday (local time). The frequency of the flights will increase in the future in accordance with market demand.