BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Cultural and tourism cooperation has been increasing between China and countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, said a source of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
A total of 108 documents were signed between China and BRI related countries from 2013 to 2018, involving bilateral cooperation in culture and tourism, according to a report posted at the website of the ministry.
Along with improved connectivity, mechanisms have been established to promote cultural and tourism cooperation between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), between China and Central and Eastern Europe and among China, Russia and Mongolia, said the report.
International cooperation among cultural organizations in the Belt and Road countries deepened further, which led to the establishment of the Silk Road alliances of theaters, museums, art festivals, libraries, and art museums, with 319 overseas organizations from 88 countries and regions involved as of April 2019.
In the meantime, China has been cooperating more with BRI related countries in the tourism sector. It and the European Union, ASEAN, Central and Eastern Europe, Kazakhstan, Australia, and Croatia took turns to hold "tourism year" activities, to improve mutual understanding.
Passenger trips made between China and BRI related countries in 2018 totaled 70.34 million, with Myanmar, Vietnam, Russia, Mongolia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore becoming China's major sources of inbound visitors, according to the report.
