On 20 January 2017, Secretary-General of ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) H. E. Mme. Yang Xiuping exchanged views with Secretary of Tourism Department of the Philippines H.E. Mme. Wanda Corazon Teo in Singapore while attending the 36th ASEAN Tourism Forum. Under Secretary of the Department of Tourism Mr. Rolando Canizal was present.

Secretary-General Yang congratulated the Philippines on assuming the presidency of ASEAN in 2017. She said that this year is important to ASEAN since it will celebrate its 50th anniversary and ASEAN and China will have a Tourism Cooperation Year. ACC will carry out various activities in tourism. The Philippines is rich in tourism resources which help in expanding the prospect of tourism cooperation between the Philippines and China. In recent years, ACC has held in the Philippines and other ASEAN countries training courses to enhance the capacity of tourism practitioners and achieved good results. In the new situation, ACC is willing to maintain close communication with the Philippines and make coordinated efforts to promote the Philippines-China, and ASEAN-China tourism cooperation so as to continue to deepen practical cooperation. ACC looks forward to continuing to receive strong support from the Department of Tourism of the Philippines.

Secretary Wanda appreciated ACC’s contributions to promoting the Philippines-China and the ASEAN-China tourism cooperation. She mentioned that the Philippines attached great importance to tourism cooperation with China, maintained good relationships with China National Tourism Administration. The Philippines is committed to taking positive measures to attract more Chinese tourists, including increasing construction and infrastructure investment, promoting the visa facilitation, increasing direct flights, and strengthening tourism resources promotion. The Department looks forward to working with ACC to strengthen ties and cooperation, and to further enhance bilateral practical cooperation.

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