U.S.,Chineseindustryleadersadvocateforstrongerpeople-to-peopleexchangesthroughtravel,tourism_GuangmingOnlineU.S.,Chineseindustryleadersadvocateforstrongerpeople-to-peopleexchangesthroughtravel,tourismAwomantakespicturesofafolkproductataneventpromotingcultureandtourismforChina'sShaanxiProvinceinNewYorkCity,theUnitedStates,onFeb.27,2024.(Xinhua/LiuYanan)byXinhuawritersYangShilong,LiuYa'nanNEWYORK,Feb.28(Xinhua)--Inavibrantdisplayofcross-culturalsolidarity,industryleadersfromtheUnitedStatesandChinagatheredheretochampionthepivotalroleoftravelandtourisminfosteringstrongerpeople-to-peopleexchanges.AtaneventpromotingcultureandtourismforChina'sShaanxiProvinceonTuesday,DuJin'gen,deputydirectoroftheShaanxiProvincialDepartmentofCultureandTourism,extendedawarminvitationtoU.S.touristsandleadersinthetourismindustrytoexplorethewondersofShaanxi."ThefactthattheUnitedStateshaslongbeenamongthetopthreeintheinboundtourismmarketinShaanxifullydemonstratesthegreatlovethattheAmericanpeoplehaveforShaanxi,"saidDu."Peoplefromthetwocountriesareincreasinglyeagertostrengthenourcommunicationandexchanges,"hesaid.TerryDale,presidentCEOoftheUnitedStatesTourOperatorsAssociation,echoedthesentiment."Today,wecelebratetheYearofDragon.Thedragoncreatesabondthattranscendscultureandbordersandrepresentsstrengthandmission,goodwill,andallthethingsthatwerepresentinthetourismindustry.Thisparticularyearisspecialforustocelebrate,"saidDale.Hesaidtourismhelpsbuildbridgesandpromotepeople-to-peopleexchanges,bearingtheresponsibilityofbringingpeopletogether."Ithelpsfostercompassionandrecognitionthatwearethesame.We'reallhumans,"hesaid.BobNederlander,Jr.,presidentandCEOofNederlanderWorldwideEntertainment,saidthatoverthepast23years,hiscompanyhascultivateddeeppartnershipswithintheChineseculturalindustry,leadingtogroundbreakingcollaborationsandjointventures.Mostrecently,histeamco-producedalargeBroadway-stylemusical,SoundoftheSilkRoad,withtheShaanxiTourismGroup,whichpremieredatShaanxiGrandTheaterintheprovince'scapitalcityofXi'anin2021."InmyovertwodecadesofexperiencesinChina,ShaanxiandXi'anhavebeenanimportantpartofourworkandofpersonalinterest,"Nederlandersaid,"notjustbecauseoftheprovince'srichculturalheritagebutitsopennesstoculturalcollaboration."ShangJiyuan,culturalcounselorattheChineseConsulateGeneralinNewYork,saidthereistremendouspotentialinChina-U.S.culturalandtourismexchangeandcooperationinthefuture."BothChinaandtheUnitedStatesarerichinculturalandtourismresources.Thankstothesolidfoundationlaidinthepastdecades,bilateralculturalandtourismcooperationhaveseenstrongrecoveryafterthepandemic,"saidShang,citingrecentvisitsbyprestigiousAmericanartsandcultureinstitutionstoChinaandpromotionaleffortsbyChinesecitiesintheUnitedStates.PeopleattendaneventpromotingcultureandtourismforChina'sShaanxiProvinceinNewYorkCity,theUnitedStates,onFeb.27,2024.(Xinhua/LiuYanan)Editor:DisclaimerTheviewsandopinionsexpressedinthisarticlearethoseoftheauthor's,GMW.cnmakesnorepresentationsastoaccuracy,suitability,orvalidityofanyinformationonthissiteandwillnotbeliableforanyerrors,omissions,ordelaysinthisinformation.