WTA Vice Chair and Secretary-General-Designate ZHENG Hao Meets with Ms. Maria Rosa Azzolina, President of Istituto Italo Cinese

On November 4, 2025, Mr. ZHENG Hao, Vice Chair and Secretary-General-Designate of the World Tourism Alliance (WTA), met with Ms. Maria Rosa Azzolina, President of the Istituto Italo Cinese (IIC), and her delegation at the WTA Headquarters in Hangzhou, discussing ways to deepen tourism cooperation.

Mr. ZHENG Hao extended a warm welcome to Ms. Azzolina and her delegation, and provided an overview of the World Tourism Alliance (WTA). He remarked that Italy—with its profound history, abundant resources, and developed tourism sector—holds significant potential for cooperation with the WTA. As an international organization bringing together high-quality members from across the global tourism value chain, the WTA is dedicated to fostering dialogue, resource sharing, and collaborative growth within the industry. He proposed that the two sides leverage their respective resources to advance cooperation in cultural tourism, wellness travel, and artistic exchanges, thereby contributing to high-quality tourism development. Mr. ZHENG underscored the profound cultural connections between Hangzhou—home to the WTA Headquarters—and Italy, citing Marco Polo’s historic travels to the East, the scholarly legacy of the Italian missionary Martino Martini in Hangzhou, and ongoing art exhibition exchanges between the China Academy of Art and Italian institutions. He noted that these enduring ties form a robust foundation for enhancing tourism and cultural collaboration. Mr. ZHENG expressed his welcome for more international partners to join the WTA, expand practical cross-sector cooperation, and collectively build a global tourism collaboration network. He also invited Ms. Azzolina to the "WTA • Xianghu Dialogue", scheduled for November in Hangzhou.

Ms. Azzolina expressed her appreciation for the warm reception and highlighted the IIC’s enduring commitment to bilateral exchanges since its establishment in 1971. She praised the WTA’s significant role as a key global tourism platform, noting that tourism serves not only as a bridge for cultural dialogue but also as a dynamic driver of economic development and people-to-people exchange. Ms. Azzolina conveyed the IIC’s intention to strengthen cooperation with the WTA by seeking membership and enhancing collaboration in tourism content promotion, joint initiatives, and cultural exchanges.

Also in attendance were Ms. Paola Bocci and Mr. Sergio Gaddi, members of the Lombardy Regional Council of Italy.