File photo shows a worker tends to flowers during a sorting process at a flower farm in Nakuru, Kenya, Dec. 27, 2018. (Xinhua/Sheikh Maina)
*More than 1 ton of high quality plateau flowers from 10 Kenyan farms and 176 pieces of Kenyan glass products had been transported directly to China as China Southern Airlines resumed flights to Nairobi after a two-week hiatus over the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. *
NAIROBI, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan flowers are transported directly to China again as China Southern Airlines resumed flights to Nairobi after a two-week hiatus over the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.
More than 1 ton of high quality plateau flowers from 10 local farms were put on board the plane of the airline on Wednesday night, said He Qinwen, a Nairobi-based Chinese entrepreneur who exports Kenyan products to China, on Thursday.
Local flower farmers have faced losses after cancellations of orders from Chinese companies due to the suspension of direct flights, said He, adding that the resumed direct flights would help local flower farmers who rely on the Chinese market.
The goods transported by the airline also include 176 pieces of Kenyan glass products, he added.
"China Southern Airlines resumed its flights to Nairobi today. All 239 passengers were screened onboard, cleared and advised to self-quarantine for the next 14 days," Kenya's Health Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.
On Feb. 11, the airline suspended its flights on the Guangzhou-Changsha-Nairobi route, citing the need to combat the outbreak. ■