China becomes world's largest source of international tourists: official

China has become the world's largest source of international tourists and a major destination for global travelers, Wang Jianhua, vice minister of culture and tourism, said at a press briefing in Beijing on Thursday.

"China has become the world's largest source of international tourists and a major destination for global travelers. According to the statistics, in 2025, inbound tourist arrivals reached 154 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 17.1 percent, and the number of overseas trips made by Chinese mainland residents totaled 148 million, up 20.8 percent from the previous year. Looking ahead, [the Ministry of Culture and Tourism] will work with other relevant departments to further improve the inbound tourism service system and enhance convenience in areas including visa procedures, payment services, tax refunds, travel guidance, accommodation and transportation," Wang said.

"The ministry will also introduce more inbound tourism products that combine traditional Chinese culture with modern experiences. It will continue to promote the national tourism campaign 'Nihao! China' overseas, making it easier for international visitors to travel to China, more comfortable for them to stay, and more memorable for them to experience the country's development and vitality firsthand," he said.

Wang noted that the ministry attaches great importance to protecting the safety and legitimate rights of Chinese outbound travelers, adding that it will continue to issue travel risk alerts for overseas destinations and work with relevant authorities to provide consular protection and assistance when needed.

Japan's benchmark 10-year government bond yield temporarily spiked to 3.055 percent on Wednesday, the first trading day after the country's five-day Silver Week holiday period.

According to public broadcaster NHK, the 10-year government bond yield, a key barometer of long-term interest rates, reached its highest level since September 1996.

Bond prices and yields maintain an inverse relationship. As bond yields rise, bond prices fall, and conversely, when yields decline, bond prices rise.

Higher bond yields will put further pressure on Japan's debt-servicing costs. According to the International Monetary Fund, Japan has the highest public debt ratio among advanced economies, at about 207 percent of its gross domestic product. That is roughly double the average of the Group of Seven economies.