SYDNEY, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- The first direct flight between Papua New Guinea (PNG) and China was set to take off on Oct. 23, airline officials have said.

The new route between Port Moresby and Shanghai will offer Chinese travellers and business people a new gateway into the South Pacific nation, PNG national Airline Air Niugini's acting chief executive Tahawar Durrani said on Wednesday.

Bolstered by the country's position as host of the 2018 APEC economic leaders' meeting, he said the seven-hour return service flight will operate twice per week on Tuesday and Friday.

"This service will complement our existing international flights to Asia," Durrani said.

"It also offers convenience for the Chinese and PNG business communities and tourists, delegates attending APEC, as well as hundreds of PNG students studying in various cities in China to fly direct between the two countries."

Upon arrival in Shanghai, the inaugural flight will be met with a celebratory function for all Chinese stakeholders involved including airport authorities, the tourism bureau, top travel agents, wholesalers and tour operators.

The event will then be followed with seminars and a media forum.

PNG is predicting the new route to be a massive windfall for its tourism sector.