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Civic boosters report progress in China hub effort

By Bill Raack, St. Louis Public Radio

St. Louis – St. Louis leaders say they're pleased with the progress made in a week-long trip to China to lobby for Lambert Airport as a new air freight hub.

Mayor Francis Slay and other officials met with several Chinese airline executives and federal aviation officials to discuss the proposal.

Mike Jones of the Midwest-China Hub Commission says the group has agreements with four Chinese airlines to study the issue further.

"What we now are in a position to do is put all of the major principals, Lambert, Chinese airlines, and freight porters who handle all the shipping, in a single conversation."

The vice chairman of the Chinese Aviation Administration released a statement saying "the time is right to open up the central United States to Chinese companies and airlines."

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