Xi'an successfully held the 2023 UCLG ASPAC Tourism Committee Council Meeting on April 12 in Nepal's capital, Kathmandu. The meeting attracted over 40 representatives of the 16 member cities across countries and regions such as Nepal, China, India, the Republic of Korea, Indonesia, and Thailand. Distinguished guests, including Ashok Kumar Byanju Shrestha, President of the United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific (UCLG ASPAC) and Mayor of Nepal's Dhulikhel Municipality, and Dr. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi, Secretary General of the UCLG ASPAC were in attendance. The meeting was presided over by Shi Qi, Director of the Foreign Sister Cities Exchange Center of the Foreign Affairs Office of Xi'an Municipal People's Government.
At the meeting, Ashok Kumar Byanju Shrestha and Tian Di, Deputy Director of the General Office of Xi'an Municipal People's Government delivered welcome speeches. Ashok Kumar Byanju Shrestha expressed his appreciation for Xi'an's contributions over the years as the initiator of the UCLG ASPAC Tourism Committee, stating that the city has played a significant role in the development of the UCLG and the Asia-Pacific region. He also acknowledged that China's efforts have contributed to the prosperity and recovery of the tourism industry.
Ashok Kumar Byanju Shrestha delivers a keynote speech
Tian Di emphasized that the 2023 UCLG ASPAC Tourism Committee is to steadily support the sustainable development of the tourism industry by adhering to the guiding principle of seeking truth from facts and being practical and innovative. Xi'an intends to work with committee members to explore new and innovative paths for the development of the cultural tourism industry. In addition, the city will support the global cultural tourism exchanges and cooperation to reach a new stage of growth.
Tian Di delivers a keynote speech
The group photo of participants
The UCLG ASPAC Tourism Committee was founded in Xi'an in 2021, with the primary goal of establishing exchanges and fostering cooperation in cultural tourism between UCLG member cities and cities along the Silk Road. The committee seeks to promote coordinated development towards mutually beneficial outcomes for cultural tourism among these cities. To date, 40 cities from 12 countries have already joined the UCLG ASPAC Tourism Committee.