The need for trip insurance in the US could soon become more acute, as federal negotiators are hopeful of ratifying an Open Skies agreement with China during talks next month.

US secretary of transportation Mary Peters, speaking on her first official trip to the People’s Republic, said that a pact similar to that between the EU and the states could come into force as early as this year.

Ideally, federal lawmakers envisage an agreement whereby passengers from both countries can freely travel from any city in the US to any city in China and vice versa. Significant progress toward that goal has already been made, Ms Peters observed.

In 2004, the countries agreed an aviation deal stepping up flight frequencies, but demand for vacations and business trips in the world’s most populous country currently far outstrips supply.

“We want to reach meaningful agreement about having full and open liberalization of aviation,” said the transportation secretary.

“I believe we can reach meaningful agreement by May and the next SED event, then consummate that agreement hopefully by the end of the year.”

Americans hoping to head for China should remember to invest in suitable trip insurance.