ACC Secretary-General Attended the 15th ASEAN Plus Three Tourism Ministers’ Meeting

Secretary-General of ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping attended the 15th ASEAN Plus Three Tourism Ministers’ Meeting upon the invitation of Secretary of Department of Tourism of Philippines on 22 January 2016. Co-chaired by Secretary of Department of Tourism of Philippines and Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Korea, the Meeting was attended by Ministers from ASEAN Member States, China, Japan and Korea. Secretary-General of ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN-JapanCentre and ASEAN-Korea Centre were also among the participants.

The Chairman of the Meeting, Secretary of Department of Tourism of the Philippines expressed his appreciation for the support of China, Japan and Korea extended to ASEAN tourism industry, and hoped to enhance tourism cooperation under the framework of 10+3. Vice Minister of Tourism of Korea briefed on the progress of tourism exchanges between ASEAN and Korea, and said Korea would implement the consensus of the leaders reached at the 18th 10+3 Summit and continue to upgrade the level of tourism cooperation. Representative from Japan Tourism Board briefed on the tourism related policy and the development of tourism exchanges between Japan and ASEAN countries. 

Vice Chairman of China National Tourism Administration (CNTA), Mr. Wu Wenxue said, in his remarks, that CNTA attached great importance to the tourism exchanges with ASEAN Member States, especially under the framework of the ASEAN Plus Three. In 2015, CNTA had carried out projects with respect to tourism marketing, capacity building and joint functions and invited ASEAN tourism professionals to familiarization tours in China, which had achieved fruitful and positive results. Through concerted efforts, the total number of bilateral visits between ASEAN and China reached 23.65 million in 2015, among which there were 6.55 million ASEAN visitors to China and 17.09 million Chinese travelers chose ASEAN as their first stop of outbound travels. China was willing to actively carry out the plan of action to implement the joint declaration on China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity (2016-2020), and push forward the development of tourism cooperation with ASEAN in light of innovation, openness and mutual benefit.

ASEAN Member States expressed their willingness to strengthen tourism cooperation with China, Japan and Korea to further contribute to regional social and economic development and prosperity. The meeting adopted the Memorandum of Understanding on ASEAN Plus Three tourism cooperation.