On Aug. 21, 2011, China Eastern Air Holding Company inked a "Strategic Cooperation Framework Agreement" with the People's Government of Qinghai in Xining, capital city of Qinghai province, seeking to jointly promote the development of Qinghai's air transportation industry.

Local governors, the chairman of China Eastern Airlines and directors with the Stated-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council attended the agreement signing ceremony. At the ceremony, the first batch of Tibetan flight attendants recruited by China Eastern Airlines made their first public appearance.

According to the strategic cooperation agreement, starting from 2011, China Eastern Air Holding Company plans to boost flight frequencies on routes from the provincial capital Xining to Xi'an during Qinghai's peak tourism season, which is scheduled to operate under a quasi-express model. As for the layout of its flight routes, China Eastern Airlines will actively take advantage of the regional transportation hub in Xi'an to establish a transit flight route linking Xining and eastern China via Xi'an.

China Eastern Airlines reportedly promises that it will make good use of its own flight route network to supply and optimize the existing Qinghai air transportation network. By opening up new routes and enhancing transport capacity, China Eastern Airlines will make a great effort in expanding the air transport of Qinghai, improving the accessibility of local civil aviation and stepping up its exploration of the regional market.