This photo taken on May 9, 2024 shows the 2024 Africa (Kenya) China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE) held in Nairobi, Kenya. (Xinhua/Li Yahui)
The government of Hunan Province in central China has signed a culture and tourism promotion agreement with Kenya.
Nairobi, May 12 (Xinhua) The government of central China’s Hunan province has signed a culture and tourism promotion agreement with Kenya.
Xiang Bin, deputy director of the Hunan Provincial Culture and Tourism Bureau, made the announcement late Friday on the sidelines of the China-Africa Cultural Tourism Promotion Cooperation Fair held in Kenya’s capital Nairobi. The agreement aims to foster and promote tourism, which has been identified as a key area for building relations between the two countries.
The agreement includes air travel routes, tourism development, joint sporting events, charter flight promotion, investment in film and television, and vocational education.
“We are working with Africa to showcase the foundations, strengths and prospects of Hunan province’s tourism and related sectors,” Xiang said at the signing ceremony.
Elephants seen in Amboseli National Park, Kajiado County, Kenya, April 27, 2024 (Xinhua News Agency/Han Xu)
Kenya Tourism Board Chairman Francis Gishaba invited the people of Hunan and China in general to visit and experience Kenya’s rich culture and landscape. He highlighted Kenya’s efforts to strengthen ties with China to attract more tourists to Kenya.
Mr Gishaba highlighted that Kenya is leveraging a wide range of digital marketing techniques to organize trips abroad to raise awareness of the country’s scenic charm and rich culture.
At the signing ceremony, the Hunan Provincial Culture and Tourism Bureau introduced five highlights of Hunan’s cultural tourism to the Kenyan participants, while Kenya introduced its unique resources and premium travel routes.
The Africa Communication Center of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Promotion Council, along with leading companies such as Hunan SMJM Media, signed six major projects worth US$8 million with cooperative partners in Kenya.
The event, themed “Welcome to Charming Hunan,” attracted around 200 participants from Chinese and Kenyan governments, think tanks, businesses and the financial sector. The fusion of Chinese grandeur and African characteristics demonstrated a beautiful tapestry of cultural affinities under the Belt and Road Initiative. The event was hosted by the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE) Organizing Committee Secretariat and the Kenyan Ministry of Industry, Trade and Cooperatives. ■
