WTA Secretariat Attends “2023 Discover China Cultural Tour” Launching Ceremony

Organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China, the “2023 Discover China Cultural Tour” kicked off in Beijing on March 21^st. Hu Heping, Minister of Culture and Tourism of China, attend the launching ceremony together with 73 diplomats and envoys from 49 countries. Pansy Ho, Vice Chair of WTA, and Liu Shijun, WTA Vice Chair and Secretary-General were invited to join the participating ambassadors, heads of cultural and tourism organizations and enterprises in launching the program for the whole year by operating the activation device on the stage.

In his speech, Hu quoted the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by the Chinese President Xi Jinping, emphasizing that China is ready to work together with the international community to open up a new prospect of enhanced exchanges and understanding among different peoples and better interactions and integration of diversified cultures, making the garden of world civilizations more colorful and vibrant. He went on to say that the Ministry of Culture and Tourism hopes to join hands with international friends and counterparts in pursuing cultural and tourism development, mutual learning and shared prosperity through collaborative efforts, opening-up and win-win approaches in response to challenges and opportunities.

First launched in 2021, the “Discover China Cultural Tour” has seen an accumulative participation of more than 140 diplomats and envoys from 68 countries. Jointly organized by the municipal government of Beijing together with a few provincial and municipal cultural and tourism departments in China, the program for this year also enjoyed the support and tourism organizations, including WTA. Ten thematic itineraries designed for the “2023 Discover China Cultural Tour” were released at the launching ceremony, showcasing the country’s rich cultural and natural endowment.