On 17 October 2017, the 4th International Conference on Tourism and Hospitality commenced in Wuxi, Jiangsu province. The conference was co-hosted by Association of Indonesian Tourism Tertiary Education Institution (AITTEI) and Wuxi Education Association for International Exchanges, organized by Wuxi Institute of Technology (WXIT), and supported by ASEAN-China Centre (ACC). The representatives from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Switzerland and India, as well as 26 vocational higher education institutions within China, attended the event.

The opening ceremony was chaired by Mr. Gong Fanghong, President of WXIT, and addressed by Mr. Zhu Aisheng, Party Secretary of -WXIT. Mr. Zhu briefed on the general situation in terms of faculties, operation and foreign exchanges of WXIT, and hoped that this conference could further raise the capability of higher education to serve socio-economic development, elevate the level and standard of the international exchanges and cooperation of WXIT, so as to build new platforms for deepening mutually beneficial cooperation with Indonesia and other ASEAN countries.

H.E. Mr. Soegeng Rahardjo, Indonesian Ambassador to China, briefly presented the fruitful achievements of Indonesia-China cooperation in the fields of tourism and education. He stated that making direct connection between tourism and education creates new opportunities in capacity building for the tourism industries of participating countries, and offering stronger support of qualified human resources to the development of tourism industry. The conference held in Wuxi was of significance for such ASEAN countries as Indonesia to expand cooperation in tourism and education with Wuxi, and push forward the development of tourism industry. He expected all parties could make full use of the great platform of this conference to enhance practical cooperation in Mandarin language training for tour guides, tourism destination development and the application of research and technology in enhancing the Chinese tourists’ experience in Southeast Asia, so as to make even bigger contributions to ASEAN-China socio-economic development.

Ms. Liu Xia, Vice Mayor of Wuxi, said that tourism is a driving force for economic development, an important sector for enriching and benefiting people, a pillar for beautifying environments, a carrier for increasing the degree of social civilization, a bridge for raising the city’s international reputation, and an effective channel for different countries and cultures to exchange and learn from each other. Intelligent buttress and human resources support are indispensible for the development of tourism and hospitality. The conference and the establishment of China-Indonesia Tourism and Hospitality Management Study Center would make positive contributions to improving the cultivation of tourism professionals and the development of tourism industry of China, Indonesia and other ASEAN countries. Wuxi would seize the opportunity to focus on the cultivation of tourist professionals with international view and cross-culture communication skill. Wuxi also expected to join hands with such ASEAN countries as Indonesia to form a new tourism cooperation pattern featured with joint contribution, shared benefits and win-win results, so as to make bigger contributions to the building of the Belt and Road.

Mr. Lin Yue, Director of the Education Department of Jiangsu Province (EDJP), briefed on the achievements of the education development and international exchanges of Jiangsu. He stated that EDJP would like to make joint efforts with all parties, sharing successful experience, enhance mutual learning, to push forward the education exchanges and cooperation between ASEAN and Jiangsu to a new level.

Mr. Suhendroyono, Chairman of AITTEI, briefed on the development of AITTEI and the general information of the previous conferences on tourism and hospitality. He commended that this conference provides a platform for all participants to mutually learn and deepen cooperation. It will play a positive role for Indonesia and other ASEAN countries to deepen exchanges and cooperation with China in tourism and hospitality, and continuously push forward both sides’ practical cooperation to achieve new fruitful outcomes.

At the opening ceremony, H.E. Ambassador Soegeng Rahardjo and Vice Mayor Liu Xia jointly unveiled the plaque of China-Indonesia Tourism and Hospitality Management Study Center, prior to which, Vice Mayor Liu Xia exchanged views with H.E. Ambassador Soegeng Rahardjo, H.E. Secretary-General Yang Xiuping, Mme. Siti Nugraha Mauludiah, Consul-General of Indonesia to Shanghai and other guests on Indonesia-Wuxi tourism and education exchanges and cooperation.