Ready to expand tourism with Asean

China is willing to expand cooperation in tourism with Asean, as this year marks the ChinaAsean Year of Tourism, Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli said.

Zhang made the remarks yesterday at the opening of the 14th ChinaAsean Expo, themed “Co-Building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, Promoting Regional Economic Integration through Tourism”.

As China and Asean (Association of South-East Asian Nations) both have abundant tourism resources with their own characteristics, increasing trips made between the two sides have played an important role in enhancing exchanges and understanding, according to Zhang.

China is Asean’s largest source of foreign tourists.

In 2016, more than 38 million trips were made between the two sides and more than 2,700 flights flew every week.

Zhang said the pair would increase the number of students studying in each other’s countries.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of Asean. Next year marks the 15th anniversary of the China-Asean partnership.