On 23 November 2017, the ASEAN-China Ecotourism Development Seminar, co-organized by ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) and Philippine Department of Tourism, was kicked off in Manila, the capital of the Philippines. Mr. Benito C. Bengzon, Jr., Undersecretary of the Philippine Department of Tourism, H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping, Secretary-General of ACC, Mr. Eddy Krismeidi, senior officer of ICT and Tourism Division of ASEAN Secretariat, Ms. Zhang Huaying, Second Secretary of Chinese Embassy in the Philippines, and more than 100 representatives from National Tourism Organizations of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, local relevant tourism associations, tourism stakeholders, scholars, tourism academia and speakers from China participated in the event.

Undersecretary Benito C. Bengzon delivered a speech at the opening ceremony and warmly welcomed the participation of representatives from China and ASEAN countries. He said that 2017 is an important year for ASEAN-China relations and ASEAN-China tourism cooperation has been expanded. Since the opening ceremony was successfully held in the Philippines in March 2017,two sides have held a series of vivid activities to promote ASEAN-China economic and social development and made a positive contribution to the regional development Ecotourism is an important direction to promote the sustainable development of tourism. ASEAN countries are developing ecotourism to meet the ever-changing needs of the world tourism market. Both ASEAN and China have abundant natural and cultural tourism resources and enjoy huge potential for further deepening the cooperation. He sincerely hopes that the participants will make full use of the exchange platform provided by this seminar, and actively share the wisdom of experience from different perspectives, jointly promote ecotourism and sustainable tourism development for the benefit of future generations.

After the opening ceremony, H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping exchanged views with Mr. Benito C. Bengzon, Ms. Alma Rita R. Jimenez, Undersecretary of the Philippines Department of Tourism, and the participants of ASEAN Members States. She said, since its inception 6 years ago, ACC has actively implemented China and ASEAN leaders’ important consensus carried out more than 100 flagship projects, organized or participated in more than 500 activities, and actively promoted bilateral cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, education, culture, tourism and information and media that achieved fruitful results.

Year 2018 will mark the 15th anniversary of the ASEAN-China strategic partnership, ASEAN-China relations will enjoy new development opportunity, ACC will continue to give full play as the one-stop information and activities center together with all walks of life so as to further promote the practical cooperation in various fields between China and ASEAN countries and make more substantial achievements.