On the morning of August 25, Shi Zhongjun, Secretary General of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), met with Jeng Phang Naw Tawng, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs and concurrently Minister of Hotels and Tourism of Myanmar, in Yangon, Myanmar. The two sides held in-depth discussions on strengthening tourism cooperation between China, Myanmar, and other ASEAN countries.

During the meeting, Shi Zhongjun emphasized that the ACC has always been committed to promoting people-to-people exchanges and practical cooperation between China and ASEAN, while maintaining close collaboration with all ASEAN Member States. He pointed out that two-way tourism is not only an important driver for regional economic growth and cultural exchange, but also a key bond for deepening bilateral relations. At present, the tourism markets of China and ASEAN are steadily recovering, and the ACC is actively promoting the revival of the regional tourism industry through training programs, media promotion, and expos. With regard to China-Myanmar tourism cooperation, he highlighted the need to focus on strengthening tourism safety and combat crimes such as telecommunication fraud, enhancing destination promotion to showcase the cultural and tourism appeal of ASEAN, advancing smart tourism to improve visitor experiences, and carrying out language training to eliminate communication barriers.

During the talks, Jeng Phang Naw Tawng expressed appreciation for the ACC’s long-standing efforts in promoting Myanmar-China friendship and cooperation, as well as regional tourism development. He emphasized that Myanmar attaches great importance to the development of its tourism industry. The earthquake in March affected hotel facilities in Mandalay, Nay Pyi Daw, and other areas, and the Myanmar government has been working on restoration and repair. Jeng Phang Naw Tawng said he hopes to actively participate in the ACC’s tourism capacity building workshops to strengthen human resources development in the tourism sector, and he invited China to organize media outlets and online influencers to conduct familiarization trips in Myanmar. He stressed that Myanmar’s Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, together with other government departments, will work to enhance tourism safety and provide visitors with a more secure and high-quality travel experience.