Malaysia will seek greater access to China's aviation market, including an open sky policy, in talks starting this week, the country's transport minister said.

The minister, Chan Kong Choy, said Malaysia had already used "quite a fair bit" of its allocated landing rights for passenger and cargo aircraft in China, and that the country now wants to re-negotiate rights. Malaysia will also ask for an "open sky policy," which will remove most restrictions on flights.

"We will also talk about frequencies, aircraft type, capacity. Landing rights are not only about points," he was quoted as saying by the state Bernama news agency.

Malaysian carriers are currently allowed to fly to up to 15 points in China.

"I will raise this with my counterpart. And we will be suggesting an open sky policy with China," Chan added.

Due in Beijing today

The minister also said he would try to attract more Chinese airlines to operate flights into Malaysia.

Chan is due to depart for Beijing today for a nine-day visit with discussions with officials expected to range from aviation to maritime issues.

National carrier Malaysia Airlines currently flies to seven destinations in China and low-cost carrier AirAsia plans to expand from its two destinations of Xiamen and the southern Chinese territory of Macau.

Freight carrier Transmile Group also operates flights to China.