On June 13th, the opening ceremony for the Seminar on Tourism and Hospitality Management for Belt and Road Countries, hosted by Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and organized by MOFCOM Training Base for International Business Officials (Shanghai), was held smoothly. Mr. Chen Wei, Deputy Executive Dean of International Education College and Vice Director of MOFCOM Training Base for International Business Officials (Shanghai), and Associate Professor Sun Xuefei from the College of Hospitality Management of Shanghai Business School (SBS), the representative of the experts, attended and delivered speeches.
Currently, the world tourism industry is at a strategic turning point, transitioning from market recovery to high-quality development. The industry’s prosperous growth necessitates a collaborative approach among nations, with sustained efforts in policy communication, industrial cooperation and standard alignment, all predicated on the principle of mutual benefits for win-win outcomes. This collective action is essential to bolster the industry as a pillar and engine of global tourism economic development. Guided by the advancement of a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind, the Seminar is designed to deepen exchanges and cooperation in the field of tourism and hospitality management among Belt and Road countries. It aims to construct bridges and ties that foster people-to-people communication.
Mr. Chen Wei stated that since the Belt and Road initiative was introduced and implemented, China has been actively engaged in and aligned with the high-quality development of the Belt and Road. Leveraging the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and high-level visits, China has organized the Chinese Culture Year and Tourism Year, established a transnational cross-border tourism belt, and actively promoted reforms in digital and intelligent tourism and hospitality management and services. These efforts have contributed to the development of the global tourism and hospitality industry with Chinese ingenuity and strategic solutions. He expressed his hope that this Seminar would offer opportunities for China and the Belt and Road countries to leverage mutual strengths and foster open development, thereby providing new avenues for enhancing the well-being of people across nations.
Ms. Sun Xuefei emphasized that tourism and hospitality management, integral to cultural exchanges and economic growth, plays a pivotal role in the Belt and Road initiative. The Seminar has invited numerous leading experts and scholars to share the lastest industry trends, management philosophies, and practical insights with the participants. She noted that the Seminar offers a precious opportunity for participants to delve into the current state of China’s tourism and hospitality management sector, expressing her hope that they will achieve significant improvements in hotel management skills and foster innovative thinking, among other areas.
On behalf of participants, Hussein Nasir, Associate Lecturer at the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Studies of the Maldives National University, conveyed his heartfelt gratitude to SBS’s training base for the program, that the seminar would enable participants to acquire knowledge, exchange ideas, and share experience. Furthermore, he aspired to collaborate with China in future to establish a cooperation and exchange platform that will foster the development of tourism and hospitality industry in various countries.
The 14-day Seminar involves 30 participants from 10 countries, including Afghanistan, Brazil, Burundi, Ethiopia, Fiji, Kenya, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal and Trinidad and Tobago. The Seminar will arrange a visit for the participants to Huangshan City, Anhui Province.
Written by: Zhao Zixuan
Photos by: Li Zheng
Reviewed by: Chen Wei
