A Russian airline has expressed interest in launching direct flights from Russia to Malaysia for tourism purposes, said Russian Deputy Transport Minister Vladimir Poteshkin.

“We have an airline that is interested in operating flights for tourists. We are in regular dialogue with Malaysia on the matter,” he said to the TASS news agency.

He was speaking at the Russia-Islamic World: KazanForum economic event.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that after talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, both countries were considering direct flights, citing increasing tourist exchanges.

The 16th Russia-Islamic World: KazanForum is being held from May 13 to 18 in Kazan, a city in southwest Russia.

This year’s forum is themed “Digitalisation: A New Reality and Additional Opportunities for Expanding Cooperation”.

Representatives from more than 100 countries are taking part in the forum.

- Bernama