Gov. Linda Lingle wrapped up a "successful round of meetings" in Beijing today on the first stop of a six-city China tour aimed at promoting Hawai'i as a visitor destination, developing export opportunities for Hawai'i products and services and forming partnerships in clean energy.

Among the officials Lingle met was Shao Qiwei, chairman of the China National Tourism Association. The two discusse what both Hawai'i and China can do to increase the amount of Chinese tourists travelling to Hawai'i, the governor's office said in a news release.

Shao talked about the pending start of air service between Hawai'i and China on Hainan Airlines, as well as the possibility of additional direct flights to meet the expected demand as more Chinese travel overseas, according to the release. Hainin Airlines is expected to inagurate its Beijing-Honolulu service early next year.