China Stages Tourism Promotion Party in PhiladelphiaA "China Night - Philadelphia " party featuring travel presentations, trade shows with Chinese art performances, was held Tuesday night in downtown Philadelphia by an 88-member Chinese travel delegation.The first of three special gatherings for travel agencies between the two countries, hosted by the Chinese delegation, was attended by Zhang Hongxi, Chinese consul-general in New York and Nancy Morgan, executive assistant to the office of mayor in Philadelphia. "China and the United States have many fields for cooperation, including tourism," said Zhang. "On behalf of the Chinese government, I warmly welcome more American tourists to China, and also hope the Americans to open their door for the Chinese tourists soon." Recalling her tour in China years ago, Morgan said: "I still have great memories for my experience in China, maybe 11 or 12 days. It's not what you read in books. I could keep talking for half an hour, but to spare your time, I just say that their generosity is unbelievable and sincere." The delegation, the largest and most comprehensive one ever in China's tourism history with travel agencies from 14 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, is staging a Road-Show at the East Coast of the United States, to promote China as an ideal destination for the Americans to plan their vacations and business trips in the new century. The special promotion event is being conducted under the theme of "China - 2001 and the New Century" with a fleet of four big coaches decorated with pictures of Chinese scenery and historic relics, together with cultural performances by Chinese artists. The Chinese tourism administration said some 900,000 Americans visited China last year, an increase of 21.7 percent from the figure in 1999. |
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