A new photo exhibit highlighting the scenic beauty and rich history of China is on display on a walkway overlooking the Main Terminal AeroTrain station at Washington Dulles International Airport. Officials of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Loudoun County and the Beijing Capital International Airport gathered Monday to unveil the exhibit and reinforce the bond that resulted from a sister airport agreement they signed in 2016.

The event follows a May 2016 ceremony in Beijing where a delegation from the Airports Authority and Loudoun County, Virginia, signed and celebrated a formal sister airport relationship while unveiling a photo exhibit promoting travel to the United States. Over the past year, executives and staff from both airports have cooperated to enhance collaboration and innovation in marketing, terminal management, airside management, route development, commercial management and design.

"The Airports Authority is very proud to reveal an exhibit today at Dulles International honoring our Sister Airport, Beijing Capital International Airport,” said Jerome L. Davis, Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. “This exhibit features beautiful reasons to travel to Beijing and further strengthens travel and business ties to support the almost twice daily nonstop capital-to-capital flights."

Monday’s meeting between airport and Loudoun County officials at Dulles also advanced the discussion to include new digital marketing strategies promoting tourism and trade between the National Capital Region and China, as well as a renewed commitment to share best practices for improving the passenger experience.

Du Qiang, vice president, Beijing Capital International Airport Company, stressed the important role of Loudon County officials in introducing the two airports, citing the long-term economic impact realized through stronger U.S. – China relations.

Highlighting the strong partnership already made between Loudoun County and the Shunyi District in China, Phyllis Randall, Chair At-Large, Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, underscored that growth in tourism and business travel fostered by the airports is resulting in significant economic gains for Loudoun County and the region.

Since 2013, China has been the top international tourism market for the D.C. region since—with over 300,000 Chinese tourists visiting Washington in 2015, each spending an average $3,300 according to previous economic impact studies. Dulles International Airport and Beijing Capital International Airport, the world’s second busiest, are connected by regular nonstop flight service from United Airlines and Air China.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority operates Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport, the Dulles Airport Access Highway and the Dulles Toll Road and also manages construction of the Silver Line project, a 23-mile extension of the Washington region’s Metrorail public transit system through Fairfax County and into Loudoun County, Virginia. More than 45 million passengers a year pass through the two airports. The Airports Authority generates more than 387,000 jobs in the National Capital Region.