Visit India Year 2015 unveiled

China and India will launch a series of activities to boost bilateral tourism, with 2015 designated as the "Visit India Year" and 2016, the "Visit China Year".

On Monday, Chinese Vice-Premier Wang Yang and Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj attended the unveiling ceremony of "Visit India Year 2015" in Beijing.

"During his visit to India last September, President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi jointly decided to host bilateral tourism year activities," Wang told the gathering at the ceremony that was organized by the Indian embassy and the China National Tourism Administration.

Modi invited Chinese tourists to his country through a video message on Monday at the same event.

Wang said that China would publicize India's tourism resources in the country and support airline companies to have more flights to India from Chinese cities and reduce airfare. He also expressed the hope that India would facilitate visa application processes for Chinese tourists and offer more quality tourism services.

Swaraj, who was in Beijing to attend a regular trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of China, Russia and India, said that better people-to-people contact between the neighboring countries would help unlock mutual tourism potential. She said that India has much to offer to Chinese tourists in terms of places to see, foods to eat and cultures to enjoy.

Such bilateral tourism promotional events offer important opportunities for both countries to strengthen tourism exchanges and cooperation, said Li Jinzao, director general of the China National Tourism Administration.

"China will actively develop special tourism products to satisfy Indian people's needs for sightseeing, vacation, medical and sports activities, and help India develop Chinese tour guides and eateries," said Li.

Li said that he is confident that bilateral tourism will touch 1 million visitors in 2016.