China to boost exchanges with foreign countries in tourism, culture: official

SANYA, Hainan, March 20 (Xinhua) -- China will boost exchanges and cooperation with foreign countries in the tourism and culture industries, a senior Chinese official said here on Saturday.

Liu Yunshan, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with representatives from international tourism associations and foreign government officials who were in the Chinese resort city of Sanya to attend the 2010 Boao International Tourism Forum.

Extending warm welcome to the guests, Liu said China will stick to the opening up policy and enhance cooperation with foreign countries.

"We will push forward exchanges and cooperation with foreign countries in the tourism and culture industries and boost development of the industries, which will serve as a bridge for people from different countries to enhance understanding and deepen friendship," he said.

The Boao International Tourism Forum, under the theme of reforms in the tourism and culture industries, is forward-looking as tourism and culture are becoming more and more integrated in economic and social development of modern society, Liu said.

More than 2,000 guests from across the globe attended the forum in Sanya in China's only tropical island province Hainan, including 60 minister-level officials, executives of world's major tourism associations and representatives from top Chinese and international firms.

The central government in January announced a plan to build the island into a top international tourist destination by 2020, which was seen as the biggest opportunity for the island since it became a separate province and the largest special economic zone of China in 1988.

Hainan authorities said the forum was an "intro with drums and gongs" for the massive tourism development plan.