On October 28, 2023, a significant meeting took place in Uzbekistan, bringing together the Minister of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China, Hu Heping, the Secretary-General of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Zurab Pololikashvili, and the Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change of Uzbekistan, Aziz Abduhakimov. The purpose of this tripartite meeting was to foster closer collaboration in the field of tourism and explore avenues for enhanced cooperation within the framework of UNWTO.
Aziz Abduhakimov, representing Uzbekistan, expressed his satisfaction with the visit of Minister Hu Heping, emphasizing that the visit serves as a significant opportunity to not only discuss the prospects of bilateral cooperation in tourism but also to define joint actions within the UNWTO.
China acknowledged Uzbekistan as a strategic partner in tourism and lauded the progress made in increasing mutual tourist flow, developing tourism destinations, and offering incentives to those investing in tourism infrastructure. China also expressed gratitude for the inclusion of Uzbekistan in the list of recommended countries to be visited by Chinese tourist groups starting from March 2023.
Currently, three airlines—Uzbekistan Airways, China Southern Airlines, and Loongair—operate 11 flights per week between China and Uzbekistan. Both, China and Uzbekistan discussed plans to expand the number and geographical reach of these flights, highlighting the importance of connectivity. China also invited to participate in the modernization of regional airports in Uzbekistan through public-private partnerships, an approach that can enhance transportation infrastructure and contribute to the growth of tourism.
The meeting also saw the discussion of cooperation within the initiatives presented by the President of Uzbekistan at the 25th session of the UNWTO General Assembly. They agreed that a delegation from the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan would visit China to study China's tourism practices and develop proposals and projects for Uzbekistan's tourism development strategy until 2030.
Hu Heping, the Chinese Minister of Culture and Tourism, expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality shown during the visit. He highlighted the success and effectiveness of the 25th session of the UNWTO General Assembly and expressed confidence that the proposals and initiatives from Uzbekistan will strengthen cooperation within the organization and provide effective solutions to current challenges.
Additionally, he suggested considering the possibility of implementing Uzbekistan's proposals and projects within the framework of China's "One Belt, One Road" initiative. He emphasized the promotion of green and ecotourism, intellectual tourism, and cultural tourism in Uzbekistan as popular destinations for Chinese tourists. Minister Heping also expressed readiness to collaborate on special tourist products and routes for Chinese tourists, as well as personnel training and guide development.
Zurab Pololikashvili, the UNWTO Secretary-General, praised Uzbekistan for the high-level organization of the 25th session of the General Assembly in Samarkand and committed to implementing the proposals and initiatives presented by the President of Uzbekistan. He proposed a tripartite cooperation initiative to invite Chinese teachers and specialists to the UNWTO International Tourism Academy in Samarkand.
Moreover, he suggested that the newly established UNWTO thematic office in Samarkand work on new projects involving leading Chinese experts in "Tourism on the Silk Road" and include Uzbek cities in the international tourism alliance of "Silk Road" cities.
Follow Daryo's official Instagram and Twitter pages to keep current on world news.
Comments (0)