Internal working platform of Yunnan Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries

On November 19, the launch ceremony of the "World Heritage Tour Plan," a supporting event for the 2024 China International Sister Cities Conference, was held in Kunming.

This event was hosted by the Propaganda Department of the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, and the Provincial Association of People's Friendship. Representatives from Yunnan's sister cities in countries such as Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Romania, as well as representatives from some provinces and cities in China and cities in Yunnan's World Heritage sites, gathered together to embark on a World Heritage journey.

Representatives from China's provinces of Fujian, Shandong, Yunnan, and countries in the Mekong River basin promote their respective hometown World Heritage sites.

To promote the protection of cultural and natural heritage and revitalize World Heritage sites, the Propaganda Department of the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, and the Provincial People's Association of Foreign Friendship jointly launched the "World Heritage Tour Plan". It advocates for the joint participation of government departments, culture and tourism departments, media institutions, think tanks, universities, travel agencies, industry associations, and non-governmental organizations in World Heritage sites worldwide to integrate resources and explore new strategies and methods for World Heritage protection. It aims to promote the design of cross-border tourism routes and enhance tourism services, supporting the sustainable development of the tourism industry; foster cultural exchange and mutual learning, and formulate communication strategies to intensify the dissemination of World Heritage. Concurrently, it will jointly host activities such as the "World Heritage Tour" City Culture and Tourism Carnival, "World Heritage Tour" Expert Experience and Salon Sharing Sessions, "World Heritage Tour" Tourism Product Negotiation Meetings, the "City Impression" Global Photography Competition and Exhibition, etc., to promote the integrated development of tourism and culture and build World Heritage tourism brands with local characteristics. It will strengthen international exchange and cooperation in the fields of cultural and natural heritage, improve heritage protection capabilities and levels, raise public awareness of the importance of World Heritage, practice green and low-carbon tourism, and support local communities in the protection and utilization of World Heritage. The plan will establish a liaison office at the International Communication Center for the South Asia and Southeast Asia Region in Yunnan Province, and carry out cooperation based on specific projects.

At the event, representatives from provinces in China such as Fujian, Shandong, and Yunnan, as well as countries in the Mekong River basin, promoted their respective World Heritage sites. Two premium "World Heritage tours" were officially launched: "Starlight Wanderings: The Secret Realm of the Buddha Capital" and "Tour Yunnan, See Angkor—A Journey to the Sino-Cambodian Natural and Cultural Dual World Heritage Sites". The Xinhua Net "Tour Yunnan, See Angkor" integrated media channel and the China News Service "Tour Yunnan, See South Asia" integrated media column were also launched.

Zeng Yan, member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Minister of Propaganda, and Wang Hao, Vice Governor of the province; Benleng Manyphone, Vice Governor of Luang Prabang Province and Chairman of the Luang Prabang Sino-Lao Friendship Association; Xi Weilai Sangale, member of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Governor of Xayaburi Province, Laos; Yun Lin, Vice Governor of Siem Reap Province, Cambodia; and Bun Rong, Vice Governor of Battambang Province, Cambodia, attended the ceremony.