China expresses condolences over the death of Japanese anti-war artist Toshiyuki Nishida, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Friday.
According to reports, renowned Japanese actor and singer Nishida, who is also known as a prominent advocate for peace and friendly relations with China, died at home on Thursday.
"Mr. Toshiyuki Nishida is a performance artist loved by both Chinese and Japanese people, and a member of Japan-China Cultural Exchange Association. He spared no effort in calling on people to reflect on the history of war, cherish peace and actively participate in cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and Japan, making contributions to increasing friendly sentiments between the two peoples. We express condolences over the passing of Mr. Toshiyuki Nishida and sympathies to his families. We believe and hope that Chinese and Japanese people will carry forward the original aspiration and uphold good neighborliness and friendship," said Mao.
China expresses condolences over death of Japanese artist Toshiyuki Nishida
Saudi Arabia is stepping up its efforts to boost tourism from China, aiming to welcome over five million Chinese visitors by 2030 through enhancing travel convenience and increasing cultural exchange.
The Saudi Travel Expo opened on Friday in Beijing's Tiantan (Temple of Heaven) Park, one of the city's cultural landmarks. The nine-day event was inaugurated by the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA), aiming to strengthen Saudi Arabia's presence on the global tourism stage and attract Chinese tourists.
Visitors to the expo can explore various exhibitions that highlight Saudi traditions. With art performances, date coffee tasting, and demonstrations of traditional weaving techniques, Chinese consumers can gain immersive experiences of tourist attractions like Diriyah and Al-Ula.
"Definitely, we are working closely at all levels with the Chinese government and the private sector. China is a main trade partner, and therefore we are unlocking and exploring and elevating the cultural exchange. And I think this is an invitation for all the Chinese to come and visit Saudi Arabia and to learn about our culture, Saudi culture and Saudi hospitality," said Al-Khateeb, Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia
According to the STA, Saudi tourism leaders are planning more travel facilitation measures, focusing on safety and enjoyment to further enhance the travel experience for Chinese tourists.
"And we want to be a main partner for China when it comes to tourism. We expect millions of tourists to come. We increased the capacity of airlines, to hope to see more and much more than five million," he stated.
Developing the tourism sector is one of the important goals of Saudi Vision 2030. Saudi Arabia has been designated as an outbound group travel destination for Chinese citizens. Now, with direct flights connecting Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen to Riyadh and Jeddah, travel to Saudi Arabia for Chinese tourists will become more convenient.
Saudi Arabia aims to attract over 5 mln Chinese tourists by 2030
