The World Health Organization approves Yiwu International Airport as an international health airports on Nov 29. [Photo/zgyww.cn]

Yiwu International Airport passed the World Health Organization's (WHO) evaluation to become an international health airport on Nov 29.

Yiwu International Airport is the 13th airport to receive the prestigious honor.

WHO evaluates an airport's ability to handle public health emergencies, prevent the outbreak of infectious diseases, and prevent possible damages to international transportation and trade.

To meet the WHO requirements, Yiwu established a special working group consisting of government employees from the departments of customs, healthcare, environment, law, and airport management.

Yiwu International Airport's recognition by WHO will add to the city's merits as the world's top wholesale market for small commodities and a "home away from home" for travelling merchants from across the globe.

The Yiwu International Airport enjoys a favorable location, as it is only 5.5 kilometers from downtown Yiwu, 4.3 km from the exit of the Hangzhou-Jinhua-Quzhou Expressway, and 4 km from Yiwu Railway Station.

It has built an 18,000-square-meter domestic terminal and a 13,000-sq-m international terminal, and has flights between Yiwu and 17 cities such as Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Urumqi and Taipei, as well as Hong Kong and international cities such as Bangkok.

International flight routes linking Yiwu and Malaysia, South Korea, Cambodia, Japan and the United Arab Emirates are being planned. It is the fourth international airport in Zhejiang.

There are plans to open over 30 domestic and international flight routes by the end of 2020.