On July 7, the Chinese delegation, led by Zhu Shanzhong, Vice Chairman of China National Tourism Administration (CNTA), and the Russian delegation, led by Vice Minister Roznove of the Ministry of Sports, Tourism and Youth Affairs of the Russian Federation, held the 6th Meeting of the Tourism Branch-Committee of China-Russia Culture Cooperation Committee.

Both parties exchanged ideas on further strengthening the China-Russia tourism cooperation and communication in a friendly and pragmatic atmosphere. Vice Chairman Zhu Shanzhong presented the development of China Tourism Industry and the main actions of coping with influences of international financial crisis to the Russian party. Roznove was very satisfied with the tourism cooperation between China and Russia, and highly valued CNTA’s practices of actively developing the Russian market and effectively coping with international financial crisis.

Both parties believed that the tourism departments of China and Russia have developed a great deal of fruitful activities since the 5th Meeting of the Tourism Branch-Committee of China-Russia Culture Cooperation Committee, and the activities developed by both countries within the framework of the Tourism Branch-Committee of China-Russia Culture Cooperation Committee have become the model for effective cooperation between China and Russia.

Both parties unanimously agreed that under the current unfavorable situation with international financial crisis, the cooperation in tourism should be intensified and actions should be jointly taken so as to promote the bilateral tourism cooperation and make new progress constantly. To ensure the steady development of both parties in tourism exchange, both parties will continue to support each other’s tourism promotion activities.

As tourism security is essential for development of the tourism industry of both countries, both parties decided to set up the working coordination team for tourism security and hold the tourism security coordination meeting on a regular basis so as to ensure that the tourism security accidents can be resolved in time and the vital interests of tourists of both countries can be guaranteed.

Zhu Shanzhong introduced to the Russian party the preparation of China-Russia Tourism Education Forum held in Beijing in November 2009 and of China International Tourism Trade Fair held in Kunming City of Yunnan Province, and invited the Russian party to participate. Roznove extended his thanks and happily accepted the invitation.

After the meeting, Zhu Shanzhong, Vice Chairman of CNTA, and Roznove, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Sports, Tourism and Youth Affairs of the Russian Federation, jointly entered into the Summary of Minutes on the 6th Meeting of the Tourism Branch-Committee of China-Russia Culture Cooperation Committee, and presided over the press conference together.

It is said that the 7th Meeting of the Tourism Branch-Committee of China-Russia Culture Cooperation Committee is planned to be held next year in Hainan Province, China.

On July 6, the Chinese delegation first visited the Chinese Embassy in Russia. Vice Chairman Zhu Shanzhong introduced relevant conditions on China-Russia tourism cooperation to Envoy Li Huilai, and heard the suggestions and opinions of the Chinese Embassy in Russia on development of China-Russia tourism cooperation.