2016中美旅游年开启
China and the U.S. have held an opening ceremony in Beijing to launch the 2016 Sino-U.S. tourism year.
2016中美旅游年在北京举行开幕仪式。
The two sides say they aim for bilateral economic cooperation to be enhanced and cultural exchanges to be deepened through a variety of activities during the event.
Li Jinzao, Head of China's National Tourism Administration, said that there's great potential for the two sides to boost tourism.
"In 2015, two-way tourist visits between the two countries surpassed 4.75 million. This result came under an environment where the global economic recovery is still weak, with the economic and trade indicators in many sectors being lacklustre at the best. Yet bilateral tourism exchanges are increasing at a rapid speed, and the rate has already surpassed over 16 percent."
He also set a goal that the number of bilateral visits between the two countries this year should reach 5 million.