Kathmandu, Sept. 16 -- Nepal's national flag carrier, Nepal Airlines, will begin flights to Guangzhou, one of China's three largest cities and a bustling business hub in the heart of Asia, from next week-marking a milestone more than a decade and a half after it first applied for landing permits.

This will also be the first-ever direct flight by the state-owned airline to China since Nepal and China established diplomatic ties in 1955.

Nepal and China had signed their first air service agreement on January 24, 1987.

"We are beginning with two flights on September 25 and 28 to Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport," said Subas Dangi, spokesperson for Nepal Airlines. "These will be promotional flights."

The one-way promotional fare for...