The 52-year-old Brndwyr resident was assisted in court by an interpreter.
Christchurch real estate agent Yanfei Bao has been missing since last Wednesday morning (19 July) when she was last seen in the Wigram area about 10.30am.
Her cellphone and car were later found.
The man was granted interim name suppression and will appear in court again on 15 August.
The man was arrested at Christchurch airport, having booked a one-way international flight. He did not have any luggage.
Detective Inspector Nicola Reeves told legacy media she was not ruling out the possibility the man would face further charges.
The investigation to find Bao continues. Police are interested in sightings of a silver Mitsubishi sedan, registration DPH101 (pictured above) from mid-week up until last night, but with a particular focus on the vehicle’s location on Wednesday, July 19, in Wigram, Hornby, Tai Tapu, Halswell, Redcliffs and New Brighton.
