China's appeal as a travel destination is growing globally thanks to its stunning scenery, visa-free entry policies and well-developed transportation system, according to international tourism industry professionals.
Jason Thomas, head of Business Development and Partnerships for Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary in Australia, said he was thoroughly impressed by the stunning natural beauty when visiting south China's Guilin City.
"Every direction I've looked today has been a completely new scene. You'll see many people coming to visit from Australia. Very much worthwhile to get into your country," he said.
Many passport holders around the world are also now able to enter China without a visa. As more travelers take advantage of this convenient policy, word of mouth has spread about sightseeing opportunities and cultural experiences in the country.
"Before, I heard Russian people, their favorite routes are Türkiye and Egypt. And as of now, I'm starting to hear more and more from my friends that they prefer to travel to China and they would love to come back later, again and again. Visa-free was extended, and I think this is a great opportunity for people to come here every year and looking for the new opportunity to organize their trips to China," said a director from a Russian tourism company.
Tourism professionals also hailed China's increasingly well-developed transportation network for foreign visitors.
"Actually from South America, there's more routes nowadays. We could fly now from Bogota to Mexico actually. And then you don't have to get off the plane and then you fly straight to Shenzhen. So I think you guys are like extremely well prepared to actually offer the world, which is leaning towards this type of tourism in China," said a plane ticket distributor from Colombia.
China boasts huge potential for inbound tourism: int'l tourism professionals
The newly-established World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) marks a major milestone in AI development and a significant step toward global AI governance, international delegates said on Friday.
Twenty-nine countries on Thursday signed an agreement in Shanghai on establishing WAICO, an independent intergovernmental international organization headquartered in Shanghai.
The organization aims to promote international cooperation and global governance on AI, ensuring that AI is beneficial, safe and fair, thereby promoting its healthy and orderly development to benefit all humanity.
"I think this organization reinforces the need for multilateral cooperation. So you have 29 countries that have come together. I think yesterday's developments underline the importance of the capacity-building that countries around the world are facing an AI divide. There are some countries that do not have the talent, the datasets, the computer infrastructure, the access to the right models, and therefore efforts such as these can help bridge the AI divide," said UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Envoy for Digital and Emerging Technologies Amandeep Singh Gill.
Alaa Abdulaal, chief of Digital Economy Intelligence at the Digital Cooperation Organization, also hailed the launch, saying that cooperation is vital to ensure that no country is structurally excluded from the evolving digital landscape.
"Any initiative that is targeted for opening dialogues and innovation and conversation between countries to make sure that everyone is participating in the digital economy is a huge milestone. Whenever we have cooperation, whenever we have different countries, different representation, making sure that no one is left outside AI, it is a huge achievement, definitely," said Abdulaal.
World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization marks milestone in AI development: int'l delegates
