Dou Enyong: Jointly Build a China-Laos Bommunity of Shared Future Featuring High-Quality People-to-People Exchanges
On 29 May, the “International Mountain Tourism Day 2023” theme events titled “Enjoy the Wonder of Mountains, Share the Beauty of Life, Revitalize the Tourism Industry” kicked off in Vientiane, Laos. The events were jointly organized by Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism of Lao PDR (MICT), International Mountain Tourism Alliance (IMTA), Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), and Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF), and supported by World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), ASEAN-China Center (ACC), China NGO Network for International Exchanges (CNIE), Guizhou Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism and Foreign Affairs Office. Over 250 guests from international organizations, IMTA members, and tourism institutions, culture and tourism enterprises, experts and scholars, and global media workers from Laos and other countries, gathered together to discuss the supply, market development, and solutions of mountain tourism facing the new consumer demands, explore the system of mountain tourism cooperation and governance within the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) framework, and jointly facilitate the full recovery, opening and interaction of the tourism market. Guests, from various perspectives, offered constructive and forward-looking insights on the new-stage innovation and regional development of mountain tourism. The events has aroused widespread concern in the international tourism industry.
During the opening ceremony, Dou Enyong, Vice-chairman of China NGO Network for International Exchanges(CNIE), delivered a speech.
I am glad to be invited to the “International Mountain Tourism Day” 2023 theme events. On behalf of China NGO Network for International Exchanges (CNIE for short).
I hereby extend my sincere congratulation to the event! Mountain is not only a critical tourism resource but also an ecological resource that benefits our physical and mental health. As the tourism industry prospers, more and more countries choose tourism to be the new economic engine and mountain tourism also improves the wellbeing of mountain residents deepens the mutual-trust and communication among different areas, and brings more jobs and chances of economic development for mountainous areas.
Tourism as a pivotal way to connect peoples promotes the cultural, economic and talent exchange among countries and deepens their mutual understanding and friendships. Mountain tourism is a way to improve cultural diversity present the beauty of nature and culture and enhance cultural integration. Mountain tourism gives people a deeper image of local history, culture and customs promotes cultural exchange and connect peoples. We must encourage more people to get involved.
Since founding in 2017, IMTA has been building communication platforms for global mountain tourism, promoting cultural exchanges among countries and making contributions to the friendly communication among peoples. We are glad to see the opening of “International Mountain Tourism Day” 2023 theme events in Laos after the pandemic. In November last year, President Xi of China met with President Thongloun Sisoulith of Laos, writing a blueprint for the China-Laos community of shared future. Both countries are now standing at a new starting point embracing new opportunities to further develop the bilateral tie. China treats Laos as a preferred partner on the Chinese path to modernization and we have listed Laos as one of the first pilot destinations of outbound group travel. We are looking forward to closely working with Lao people enriching the cultural foundation of China-Laos community of shared future.
It is our important responsibility to promote the NGO exchange and communication between China and Laos and other ASEAN countries. CNIE was founded in 2005, now it has 310 group members. It is China’s largest social association of international exchange. Since founding, we have been organizing and participating in UN events holding China-Southeast Asia High-Level People-to-People Dialogue, China-Africa People's Forum, Asia-Europe People's Forum, and other international multilateral activities and “Silk Road Family”, supporting social organizations and enterprises in China. We also held public well-being projects in public health, education and poverty reduction making contributions to the wellbeing of people and people-to-people connection.
At the time of world tourism reshaping, CNIE looks forward to helping IMTA and tourism organizations to “go global” promoting the full recovery, opening and interaction of the tourism market building a high-standard, high-quality and high-level China-Laos community of shared future and trying our best to keep connecting peoples all over the world. Last, I wish the events a grand success!
