During attending the 7th Meeting of Joint Council of ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) held in Guilin, H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping, Secretary-General of ACC traveled to Xing’an county to visit Ling Canal and other cultural tourism facilities where she learned about local development of cultural tourism industry. Mr. Zhang Mingdao, Deputy Director of Bureau of Culture, Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television of Guilin, accompanied the visit.

Ling Canal was constructed in 214 B.C. It was recorded as the earliest man-made canal in the world. Ling Canal was among the first group of important heritage sites under state protection in China, and presented National Park of China, world famous water conservancy project, and pearl of ancient water construction in the world. Guilin and Xing’an have been actively promoting the development of tourism resources and preservation of cultural relics, so as to attract more domestic and international tourists to experience the local history, culture and tradition.

Secretary-General Yang Xiuping briefed the accompanied local officials on ACC’s work particularly the activities encompassing the 50th anniversary of ASEAN and the ASEAN-China Year of Tourism Cooperation. She stated that ACC would continue to give full play to its mandate of a one-stop information and activates centre, and serve as a bridge and bond to link Xing’an and Guilin with ASEAN countries for their two-way exchanges and cooperation so as to tap cooperation potentials and promote common development.

During the stay in Guilin, Secretary-General Yang Xiuping also visited other cultural tourism facilities, and exchanged views with accompanied local officials on jointly promoting ASEAN-Guilin practical cooperation in preservation of cultural relics, cultural exchanges, and development of tourism industry with a view to better understanding between the people and in-depth development of ASEAN-China relations.

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