Latin American countries should express gratitude for the initiatives put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping and, through bilateral and multilateral agreements, expand cooperation with China to jointly pursue steady and sustained progress in the "ship of a shared future," Peruvian President Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra has said.
Boluarte made the statement during an interview with China Central Television (CCTV) on June 28, coinciding with her state visit to China from June 25 to 29 at the invitation of Xi, marking her first trip to China as the Peruvian president.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive cooperative partnership between China and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) as well as the establishment of the China-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) Forum.
Xi once used the metaphor of a "ship of a shared future" to depict the relationship between China and Latin America.
"Through the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), countries in our region unite under the banner of multilateralism. I believe China's contribution to such organizations is of great importance because you have shown us that China's development can not only foster bilateral and multilateral relations but also have an impact on each country. I believe that the countries in Latin America, as well as the CELAC itself, regard China as a good example. Therefore, I think we should express gratitude to President Xi Jinping for his initiatives and further enhance this cooperation through bilateral and multilateral agreements," Boluarte said.
Peruvian president expects Latin America to sail in "ship of shared future" with China
An increasing influx of elderly overseas travelers now choose to spend some of their post-retirement time traveling in China as the country keeps improving its visa policies and tourism services.
With more elderly travelers coming to China from abroad, the country's inbound tourism market has experienced significant growth. In the first seven months of this year, the country received about six million visits from foreign travelers, marking an over-400-percent increase year on year, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China.
Six Dutch tourists recently visited Xi'an City in northwest China's Shaanxi Province to see the terracotta warriors at the site of Emperor Qin Shihuang's Mausoleum.
They are all above the age of 60 and most of them came to China for the very first time. Wilco Poppeliers, one of the travelers, said he has long been expecting this travel and he could only make it after his retirement.
"I think it was very [much] on my bucket list still to visit China. Now I'm retired, I have the time to travel to visit places like this," he said.
For elderly couples from Mongolia, Chinese destinations also maintained strong attraction. Altogether 12 of them have an average age of about 60, with the oldest already 88.
"China is just next to Mongolia. I have visited many places in China like Wutaishan, Zhangjiajie, Hohhot, and Beijing. China has been developing very fast," said one of the tourists.
Along the Lijiang River, famous for its karst landscapes, some 30 overseas tourists recently visited the riverside Moya cliff sculptures and inscription.
The elders said they have been traveling around China before arriving at the cliff site in the southern city of Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
"We have traveled around the country and visited a wide range of cities. The travels were very smooth and convenient," said Marcia Akemi Fujinami, a visitor from Brazil.
The rich cultural heritage is what attracts him to China, said Fabrizio, an Italian tourist, adding that visiting the country has been easier as now there are many flights between Europe and China.
"Traveling to China is nowadays quite simple. There are a lot of flights coming from Europe. China is one of the countries with the largest number of UNESCO heritage places in the world. So we are very happy about visiting this country," he said.
China has been promoting inbound travels by accelerating the resumption of flights and improving tourism services for travelers from abroad. Scenic spots across the country have also been facilitating visits for international tourists while enhancing the quality of their products.
With improved visa policies, customs clearance policies, and more payment options, including cash payment, QR code and bank cards, overseas visitors can now enter and enjoy better services in China.
China sees increasing elderly overseas tourists following improved policies, services
