[InKunming--Kunming]  Kunming Sister City Tourism Cooperation and Development Seminar kicked off in Kunming on June 12, 2016 during the 4th China-South Asia Expo and the 24th Kunming Import and Export Commodities Fair.

For a long time, Kunming and its international sister cities have been maintaining all-round exchanges and cooperation, which has become an important part of the opening up of Kunming.

In this context, Kunming Municipal Government, taking advantage of the 4th China-South Asia Expo, has invited the sister cities in South and Southeast Asia to carry out in-depth discussions on promoting tourism facilitation and accelerating regional cross-border tourism development.

The seminar was attended by mayors of some international sister cities, Consuls-General of foreign consulates general in Kunming, noted tourism scholars and experts at home and abroad, tourism industry leaders and representatives of Kunming customs, Yunnan Airport Group and other institutions.

The seminar consisted of two parts: first, keynote speeches were delivered by Wang Xiliang (mayor of Kunming Municipal Government), Cheng Wendong (former deputy director of China National Tourism Administration and former Chinese ambassador to Italy), Gao Shunli (president of China Tourism News), Mr. Chatterjee (a scholar from Calcutta, India), Natthachudej Wiriyadiloktham (deputy mayor of Chiang Mai, Thailand) and U Ye Lwin (mayor of Mandalay, Myanmar). And Meng Qinghong (deputy mayor of Kunming Municipal Government) read out "Kunming Initiatives".

Second, a high-end dialogue themed on "Tourism Facilitation" was held among Gao Shunli (president of China Tourism News), Meng Qinghong (deputy mayor of Kunming Municipal Government), Yang Jinsong (an associate researcher with the China Tourism Academy's international tourism development division), Li Yinglin (vice president of Yunnan Airport Group), Chen Mingxin (deputy inspector of Kunming Customs) and Wang Bing (general manager of Kunming Holiday International Travel Service Co., Ltd).

The seminar, themed on "Sister City Tourism Exchanges and Cooperation", focused on tourism facilitation. Through keynote speeches, the high-end dialogue and other activities, attendees carried out in-depth discussions on tourism development and cooperation, provided valuable experience for sister city cooperation, expanded the space for further development and blazed a path towards win-win outcomes in the long run.

The seminar enhanced the friendship, strengthened exchanges and deepened cooperation between sister cities. At the seminar, the attendees agreed to jointly establish and improve the tourism facilitation policy system, and promote the common development of tourism for Kunming and the sister cities.

Kunming, as one of China's provincial capitals nearest to South and Southeast Asia, maintains close trade and tourism exchanges with South and Southeast Asian countries. With the development of the five-hour Asian aviation circle and the construction of the Trans-Asian Railway, Kunming and Southeast and South Asia will be more closely connected.

During the "13th Five-Year Plan" period, Kunming will make the best of international and domestic markets and resources to accelerate industrial cultivation and development, to promote international cooperation and exchanges and construct the economic and trade centre, the scientific and technological innovation centre, the financial service centre and the cultural exchange centre's opening up towards South and Southeast Asia.

Kunming also aims to build itself into a regional international central city focusing on southwest China, fanning out to the whole country and radiating its influence to South and Southeast Asia.

Tourism is an important bridge for civilization spreading, cultural exchanges and friendship promotion as well as an important indicator of people's improved living standards. Tourism is a "sunshine" industry, bringing great economic, social and ecological benefits, creating beauty and sharing beauty.

Like Mandalay, Chiang Mai and other sister cities, Kunming is a major tourism city rich in tourism resources and undergoing rapid tourism development. The unique and charming natural and cultural landscapes have made Kunming a world-class tourist destination.

The "Kunming Initiatives" were proposed at the seminar, indicating that the seminar has become an important platform for sister cities to promote friendly relations, seek pragmatic cooperation and learn from each other.

Through the development of tourism, Kunming has become an important link to promote exchanges and cooperation among the sister cities and their opening-up to each other.

With the rapid tourism development in China as well as in South and Southeast Asia, the sister cities in the Kunming's coverage region are constantly expanding the scale of tourism, and have become important tourist destinations and sources for each other.

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(Editor: Cathy Chen)