国内英语新闻:China, Russia deepen "red tourism" cooperation

BEIJING, June 8 (Xinhua) -- China will strengthen cooperation and exchanges with Russia in making more tourism products, the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) said Monday.

Tourism authorities of the two countries have agreed to hold promotional activities between June 28 to July 1 in central China's Xiangtan city, hometown of New China's founder Mao Zedong, to boost "red tourism", themed tours to historical sites which educate tourists on the heroic history of the Communist Party of China.

"During these activities, the two countries will discuss the cooperation mechanism and approaches on how to further develop red tourism," said Luo Dihui, a CNTA official in charge of red tourism work.

The official said China is seeking such cooperation to commemorate the 70th anniversary of China's victory in the War Against Japanese Aggression as well as the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War.

These activities will also declare the firm stance of the Chinese people who remember history and cherish peace.

Luo said the two countries will jointly design red tourism routes which particularly cater to youngsters in order to help them build a firm belief in peace, oppose aggression, and enhance patriotism.

He said the two countries will sign cooperation memos while Chinese and Russian cities will also sign city-to-city cooperation agreements.

Around the world, countries such as France and Germany have also offered tourism products that cater to Chinese tourists' interest, such as promoting tours to hometowns of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, as well as visits to places Chinese leaders such as Deng Xiaoping and Zhou Enlai lived in Europe.

The CNTA data showed China's "red tourism" sites have received more than 4 billion tourists over the past decade, with numbers growing by 16 percent annually on average.