Leading foreign travel agencies will be encouraged to open joint ventures in China, and tourism should become a major industry of the country's vast western region, according to Chinese Vice-Premier Qian Qichen.

Qian told a national meeting of the tourism industry Sunday in south China's Shenzhen city that the leisure sector is in a prime period since the country is readjusting its economic structure and planning intensive development of the west.

In addition to JV travel agencies opened by foreign firms in China, leading domestic firms should also start travel services overseas, Qian said, adding that the central and west areas should take advantage of their rich and unique resources to turn themselves into new tourist attractions.

The vice premier also urged Guangdong Province to form a "tourist zone" together with neighboring Hong Kong and Macao -- both world-famous sightseeing and shopping centers.

During his stay in Guangdong, Qian toured some enterprises funded by overseas Chinese and businessmen from Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Qian said that more investment by overseas Chinese should be encouraged while protection of their rights and interests should be enhanced.