WTA Chair ZHANG Xu Attends The 6th Spring Expo in Xinjiang

Urumqi, March 22 – The 6th Spring Expo in Xinjiang opened in Urumqi, attracting a multitude of participants from both domestic and international tourism organizations. The event was graced by prominent figures including WANG Jianxin, Member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Minister of Publicity; WANG Guohe, Member of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region; Muhe Yati Garbuhamaiti, Member of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Chairman of the People’s Government of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region; and Batu, Member of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Chairman of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Committee of CPPCC. Mr. ZHANG Xu, World Tourism Alliance (WTA) Chair, was invited to attend the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech.

ZHANG Xu, WTA Chair

During his speech, Mr. ZHANG Xu highlighted Xinjiang’s abundant cultural and tourism resources. He acknowledged the visionary efforts of the Xinjiang government in promoting the "Tourism-driven Development of Xinjiang" strategy, which has effectively enriched tourism formats, deepened cultural and tourism integration, optimized the tourism environment, and achieved remarkable progress in the development of the cultural and tourism industries. As the "Core Area of the Silk Road", Xinjiang leverages its geographical advantages to establish itself as a solid bridge connecting China and Central Asian countries in economic, cultural, and tourism exchanges, making it a frontier platform for international exchanges and cooperation. Mr. ZHANG Xu emphasized that the WTA will continue to leverage its platform to facilitate both international and domestic cooperation, aiming to deepen and expand the integration of the tourism industry in collaboration with various sectors of society at higher levels. He expressed his aspiration for tourism to continue to serve as a bridge connecting the world, promoting peace and prosperity.

Themed "Cultural Prospers along the Silk Road, Tourism Fuels Growth", this year’s Spring Expo in Xinjiang was organized by the Department of Culture and Tourism of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, with guidance from the China Tourism Association. The exhibition brought together over 580 cultural and tourism institutions and enterprises from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and 12 provinces and municipalities within China. The event aims to advance cooperation in developing cross-border tourism routes and cultural tourism infrastructure procurement under the "Xinjiang + Central Asia" initiative.