China, US enhance tourism cooperation as bilateral dialogue restarts

The 14th China-U.S. Tourism Leadership Summit has convened for first the time in five years which is expected to boost bilateral exchanges for the two countries.

Hundreds of guests from China and the United States have gathered in Xi'an of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, to share insights on the present and future of tourism in the two countries.

The Chinese side said that China welcomes tourists from all countries, including the United States, and strives to make it easier for foreigners to travel, work and live in China. China will support U.S. tourism companies in opening more routes to China and sharing tourism development opportunities in China.

This time, the United States also sent the largest and highest-level delegation in history to attend the summit, and expressed the hope that tourism cooperation and personnel exchanges between the two countries will be restored to the pre-epidemic level as soon as possible.

"If you look at the recovery process, we are probably only one third of the way back to where we were in 2019. But what's interesting looking at it from the perspective of Los Angeles, for example, even at only one third recovery, that is still over 410,000 Chinese visitors last year, making it our number one overseas market. Even though it still has more recovery, but we're incredibly optimistic about the future," said Adam Burke, President and CEO of the Los Angeles tourism.

Participants from China and the United States said that an important issue is how to present a colorful and diverse China to the world so that more people can know and understand China.

"The power of the travel and tourism industry goes beyond the economic benefits and the power to create good jobs for the Chinese and American citizens that involved in the industry, but it also has that power of diplomacy that people to people relationship building and that ability to change hearts and minds," said Todd Davidson, Travel Oregon CEO.

"I think we have a lot to learn from each other. And if we can sometimes put some of the geopolitical issues aside, concentrate on the things that are most important to us and that we can really benefit from each other," said Lisa Simon, CEO of the International Inbound Travel Association.

"Relying solely on the media is not enough for China and the United States to get an accurate understanding of each other. Particularly when Western media often report China with bias, it is difficult to get a correct understanding of China. Therefore, Americans should visit China, and Chinese people should also visit the United States. This will help establish a correct understanding of both countries, increase exchanges from the grassroots level to the official level, and foster long-term bilateral relations," said Gao Fei, vice president of China Foreign Affairs University.

China, US enhance tourism cooperation as bilateral dialogue restarts

Slovak President Peter Pellegrini on Wednesday commended China’s global initiatives for advancing development and peace, and stressed that Chinese technology should be judged by standards rather than origin.

This year marks the fifth anniversary of the Global Development Initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping. Over the past five years, it has attracted the participation of 130 countries and international organizations, including Slovakia.

During his state visit to China from Monday to Wednesday, Pellegrini told China Media Group that the country's global initiatives are reshaping development and peace efforts, positioning Slovakia to play a role in the emerging cooperation network .

"I think the characteristic is exactly the two words: development and world peace. When we speak about the Belt and Road Initiative, Slovakia from the geographic point of view is, I think, at the right position to be part of this logistic network from China or the eastern part of the world to the western part. I would like that Slovakia for the future will be part of this logistic network, and I really appreciate and support this kind of initiatives," Pellegrini said.

Pellegrini called for fair treatment of Chinese technology, stressing it should be assessed by security standards rather than dismissed for its origin.

"In reality, I see these activities of the Chinese president and China to try to create again groups of countries or to connect again leaders to speak about really development, peace, new possibilities, new areas of cooperation, to avoid maybe the other type of politics in this moment, which are looking more for conflicts, more confrontation, and this kind of things. So I think it's very helpful, of course. Okay, there are different views on that. And many, I have to say, in the European Union are afraid a little bit. When they see China and they think, okay, maybe we should not cooperate too much with them," Pellegrini said.

"My position is always, and I presented it to Mr. President Xi Jinping, that I really do not agree when somebody is telling that some technology should be not used because it's coming from China. I say, sorry guys, we have to make a specification of security, and whatever technical specification of technology, and it doesn't matter from where technology is coming. If it is in compliance with these rules, the market should be open," he said.

Slovak president backs China’s initiatives, rejects bias on technology