Pakistan will continue its sincere efforts for peace in the region, the Prime Minister's Office of Pakistan said on Wednesday, in referring to the country's friendly relations with neighboring Iran.
The statement came after a meeting between Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and a visiting Iranian delegation led by Minister of Industry, Mine, and Trade Seyyed Muhammad Atabak.
During the meeting, Sharif said that Pakistan views its relations with its neighbor and brotherly country, Iran, with the highest regard.
The two countries agreed to promote border trade, enhance facilities to keep the border open 24 hours a day, and improve logistics and customs procedures through coordination, according to the statement.
Atabak paid tribute to the Pakistani leadership and people for Pakistan's sincere diplomatic efforts for peace in the region and for expressing solidarity with Iran, the statement said.
Pakistan will continue sincere efforts for peace
The rise of the "China Travel" online trend reflects a surge in international interest in China, respondents overwhelmingly said in a global online survey conducted by China Global Television Network (CGTN).
A total of 92.9 percent of respondents agreed with the statement, reflecting how the online trend has been winning over fans around the world this summer through summer escapes, experience-based tours, shopping trips, and cultural journeys.
From breathtaking natural landscapes and iconic landmarks to trendy tea drinks and traditional clothing such as hanfu and qipao, foreign visitors are constantly adding new experiences to their "China Travel" wish lists.
When asked "Which type of travel experience in China interests you the most?", 54.7 percent of the respondents expressed interest in historical and cultural landmarks such as the Great Wall and the Forbidden City. Natural scenery, unique cultural experiences, and modern urban life in China ranked second through fourth respectively.
On their interest in Chinese cuisine, 55.5 percent of respondents said they were most interested in traditional Chinese dishes, while internet-famous specialty foods, modern tea beverages and specialty drinks, and regional delicacies ranked second through fourth.
Asked which products they would most like to buy if they traveled to China, 48.3 percent of respondents showed the strongest preference for tech products and smart devices. Over 23 percent of respondents chose Chinese cultural and creative products, 18.7 percent chose specialty foods and snacks, and 9.6 percent chose trendy fashion apparel and traditional Chinese clothing.
According to the National Immigration Administration, China recorded 22.9 million inbound trips by foreign nationals in the first half of this year, up 20.4 percent year on year, maintaining strong growth momentum.
Notably, 17.8 million inbound trips by foreign nationals were made under China's visa-free policies in the first half of this year, up 30.6 percent year on year. A series of measures aimed at facilitating inbound travel are attracting a growing number of foreign visitors to China.
In the survey, 92.8 percent of respondents said that content related to traveling in China on social media is continuously increasing their interest in learning about China and visiting the country; 87 percent of respondents believed that traveling to China in person helps them gain a more comprehensive and authentic understanding of Chinese culture, society, and the current state of its development.
According to the survey, 92.2 percent of respondents believe that convenient services such as mobile payments, high-speed rail, and shared mobility are becoming important components of the travel experience in China. Over 90 percent of respondents believe China's continued efforts to optimize its visa policies and streamline entry procedures have effectively boosted overseas travelers' willingness to visit the country, and 79.6 percent of respondents hope to learn about Chinese travel information, discover more popular attractions, and explore travel experiences through locally developed mobile applications in China.
The survey was released on CGTN's English, Spanish, French, Arabic and Russian platforms, with 7,085 netizens voting and expressing their opinions within 24 hours.
Over 90 pct of respondents see surging worldwide interest in China travel, culture: CGTN Poll
