On 12-14 July 2022, the Asian Marine Tourism Development Conference was held in Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province. Mr. Rao Quan, Vice Minister of Culture and Tourism of China, Mr. Peng Jiaxue, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee and Secretary of CPC Ningbo Municipal Committee, Mr. Cheng Yuechong, Vice Governor of Zhejiang Province, Mr. Tang Feifan, Mayor of Ningbo City, Ms. Guo Yan, Envoy of the Department of Asian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, Mr. Palitha Kohona, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to China, and Mr. Liu Shijun, Secretary-General of the World Tourism Alliance delivered speeches at the opening ceremony. Ms. Angela Tanoesoedibjo, Vice Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy of Indonesia, and Datuk Wira Dr. Noor Zari Hamat, former Secretary-General of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Malaysia delivered video remarks. Ms. Li Yaying, Deputy Director of the Education, Culture and Tourism Division of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) attended the conference. 

Under the guidance of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China, the conference was organised by the Bureau of International Exchange and Cooperation of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China, Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism and the Government of Ningbo. A total of around 200 people attended the conference, including representatives from the Embassies and Consulates-General of Asian countries in China, international organisations, culture and tourism departments (bureaus) from relevant provinces (cities) in China, experts and scholars from marine research institutions and think-tanks, associations, colleges and universities and participants from related enterprises and media.

With the theme of “Promoting the Development of Asia and Sharing the Marine Economy”, the Asian Marine Tourism Development Conference was held both online and offline, consisting of an opening ceremony, keynote speeches, round-table dialogue and several sideline activities. To build platforms for communication and collaboration in marine tourism among Asian countries, and promote the sustainable development of marine tourism, the conference launched “Ningbo Initiative for Asian Marine Tourism Development”. Various activities such as the Ningbo culture and tourism promotion conference, launching ceremony for recreational-diving training centre, workshop for recreational-diving capacity building, photo exhibition on marine tourism and interactive exhibition of marine tourism branded companies were held. During her stay in Ningbo, Ms. Li Yaying attended the above-mentioned activities and exchanged views with participants on ASEAN-China culture and tourism cooperation.