International Tourism Alliance of Silk Road Cities launched in Jiangxi

A launch ceremony for the International Tourism Alliance of Silk Road Cities was held in Jingdezhen City in east China's Jiangxi Province on Friday, along with a series of other activities, including the International Forum on Culture and Tourism Development of Silk Road Cities 2023.

Jingdezhen is one of China's top tourist cities, known as the millennia-old world capital of porcelain. It witnessed the founding of the alliance, which includes a total of 58 cities from 26 countries around the world.

A multitude of government representatives, diplomats based in China, industry experts, and elites from various countries participated in the launch ceremony on Friday.

According to officials from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the alliance aims to further promote international humanistic exchanges and cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and construct a bridge for member cities to deepen friendly exchanges and practical cooperation in tourism.

"The alliance aims to create a platform for renowned tourism cities around the world to promote, cooperate, and communicate with each other, fostering a spirit of sharing and mutual benefit," said Wan Ting, deputy director of Network of International Culturalink Entities in the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China.

Foreign representatives view this alliance as a fresh start for tourism cooperation among BRI countries.

"We think such an alliance is very important for tourism. They make the destinations visible, but also encourage peace and good cooperation between different countries. I expect this to bring more attention to the region and also to the alliance in general," said Suleiman Farajat, mayor of Petra Region in Jordan.

In conjunction with the launch ceremony, an international forum on culture and tourism development of Silk Road Cities was held in Jingdezhen, where foreign representatives explored diverse avenues for innovative development within the culture and tourism industry.

"I think today we are doing a big step to the globalization of tourism. I think the Belt and Road Initiative gives us the opportunity to meet the other 30 countries and build it all together, creating a new alternative for investment, for financing-it is hoped. Tourism needs new things and this is new. In politics, there is no empty space. In economy, there is no empty space. So we are taking this space, and this is very important, a very big step," said Vinicius Lummertz, former president of Brazilian Tourism Institute.

The event also marked the establishment of the Jingdezhen Declaration, which embodies the principles of "extensive consultation, joint contributions, and shared benefits," welcoming all nations that recognize the Silk Road spirit.

It will adhere to a tourist-centric approach to make travel more convenient while valuing integration, synergy, and fostering stronger bonds among people.