2021 China (Zhengzhou) International Mayor’s Forum on Tourism Ambassador Dr. Palitha Kohona attends the opening ceremony

• The forum was organised by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Henan Provincial People’s Government

Sri Lankan Ambassador to China Dr. Palitha Kohona invited Chinese people to enjoy the natural beauty of Sri Lanka and to explore its potential business opportunities, and stressed that Sri Lanka and Henan Province should develop closer relations and that will encourage further exchanges in various sectors such as tourism, culture, religion, education, trade and investment.  

Ambassador Dr. Palitha Kohona attended the opening ceremony of the 2021 China (Zhengzhou) International Mayor’s Forum on Tourism from April 21 to 22, 2021.  

The forum was organised by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Henan Provincial People’s Government under the theme of “Market Prosperity, Scientific and Technological Innovation to Enhance the Competitiveness of Urban Tourism.” 

In his opening address, member of the Standing Committee of the Henan Provincial Party Committee and the Secretary of the Zhengzhou Municipal Party Committee Xu Liyi, explained the construction project of the cultural tourism zone, “Three cities, Three hundred kilometres, Three thousand years” as part of promoting the cultural tourism. This project also highlighted and promoted China’s civilisation and the culture of the Yellow River. Xu stated that through this project, they expect to increase the tourist interactions in the Henan Province and also to expand the cultural cooperation with other countries of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).  

Acting Governor of Henan Province Wang Kai, stated that in the first quarter of this year, the Henan Province had received nearly 20 million tourists, and the tourism industry will be the major source of income of Henan Province as per the “Fourteenth Five Year Plan” of China.  

Executive Director of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation Zhu Shanzhong, President of the World Tourism Union Duan Qiang, Chief Executive Officer of the Asia Pacific Tourism Association Mario Hardy and other representatives of International Tourism Organisations, as well as Mayors of cities in Italy and Greece also spoke via online.