On November 17th-19th, the 2020 International Mountain Tourism Alliance Annual Conference opened in Guiyang. The Conference is concentrated on the theme of "The Path of Mountain Tourism Development in the Post-COVID World". During the annual conference, the participants focused on this major topic, and discuss depth in how to promote the revitalization and quality of mountain tourism after the pandemic, and provide thoughts guidance and practice support for global mountain tourism management and promotion of global tourism industry.
This Annual Conference is hosted by the International Mountain Tourism Alliance. UNWTO, WTTC, PATA, GTEF, WTA, WTCF, ASEAN-China Centre, WCCO and other well-know international organizations and associations provided powerful support.
The Address at Opening Ceremony
Chen Dehai , Secretary-General of ASEAN-CHINA Center
Your Excellency Mr. Dominique de Villepin, Chairman of IMTA; Mr. Zhu Shanzhong, Executive director of UNWTO; Ms. Gloria Guevara, CEO and President of WTTC; Mr. Mahendra Bahadur Pandey, Ambassador of Nepal to China.
Your Excellency Mr. Lu Yongzheng, Member of the Standing Committee and Director of Publicity Department of the CPC Guizhou Committee; Mr. Hu Zhongxiong, Vice Governor of Guizhou Province.; Mr. Xie Jinying, Director-General of the International Exchanges and Cooperation Bureau of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China.
Your Excellency Mr. Shao Qiwei, Vice Chairman of IMTA; Mr. He Yafei, Secretary-General of IMTA.
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning!
In this lovely season tinted with deep autumn hues, it gives me great pleasure to attend the 2020 International Mountain Tourism Alliance Annual Conference in Guiyang. On behalf of ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), the supporter of the event, I would like to extend my congratulations on the opening of the annual conference. I also wish to express my sincere gratitude to all relevant partners, and my heartfelt welcome to all the guests and friends present here.
The year 2020 is very different for all of us. COVID-19 has inflicted severe impacts to our life and work, and the tourism industry is bearing the brunt of such an unprecedented pandemic. Facing the new challenges, the global tourism sector has made concerted efforts to explore ways to revitalize and develop tourism, and has achieved initial outcomes. Under the new scenario, we gather here in Guiyang, put forward constructive ideas on mountain tourism, share valuable experiences and work together to promote the recovery and revitalization of the tourism industry. All these have made today’s event all the more relevant and significant.
Dear friends, ladies and gentlemen,
ASEAN and China are good neighbors, good friends and good partners, linked by mountains and rivers. Ever since the launch of ASEAN-China dialogue relations in 1991, the two sides have reaped rich fruits in practical cooperation across the board, and people-to-people exchanges have grown to be the third pillar of ASEAN-China relations. ASEAN and China are each other’s largest trading partner, important source of inbound tourists and travel destination. In 2019, the mutual visits exceeded 65 million in total. ASEAN and China have joined hands in battling COVID-19 and secured an early victory.
It is well-known that Guizhou abounds with unique mountain tourism resources. The exchanges and cooperation between Guizhou and ASEAN in the areas of culture, tourism, education, science and technology have yielded fruitful results. ASEAN-China (Guiyang) Belt and Road Culture and Tourism Exchange Week, ASEAN-China Education Exchange Week held in Guizhou have become important platforms for cooperation among China and ASEAN and other countries and regions along the Belt and Road. I’m confident that by attending the conference, especially by signing of the MOU between ACC and IMTA, the mountain tourism industry of ASEAN Member States and China will be injected with new energy and vitality, and the tourism cooperation between ASEAN and China will be upgraded to a new level.
Dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,
As an inter-governmental organization co-founded by 10 ASEAN Member States and China, since its establishment in 2011, ACC has committed itself to implementing the important consensus reached by the leaders of ASEAN and China, and to promoting the practical cooperation between both sides in trade, investment, education, culture, tourism as well as information and media. Facing new conditions and challenges, ACC will join hands with all parties to create opportunities through exchanges, tackle difficult problems through cooperation, and foster a brighter future for humanity.
In conclusion, I wish a full success for the 2020 IMTA Annul Conference, and wish everyone a pleasant stay in Guiyang!
Thank you!
