Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 14 July (BelTA) – The Belarus-China Year of Tourism will help increase mutual tourist flows, Chairman of the Minsk Oblast Executive Committee Anatoly Isachenko said as he opened the Days of Chongqing Culture and Tourism in Minsk on 14 July, BelTA has learned.

“This year was declared the Year of Belarus Tourism in China. I hope that this initiative will help intensify travels between our countries,” Anatoly Isachenko said.

Cooperation between Minsk Oblast and the city of Chongqing in culture and tourism is an important part of Bealrus-China relations. “We have everything in place for successful cooperation, for example, in museum studies, art and music. I am convinced that the Days of Chongqing Culture and Tourism will continue the cultural and historic dialogue, strengthen and expand cooperation between our regions,” the governor added.

Chongqing Mayor Tang Liangzhi expressed hope for closer ties. “In recent years our countries have boosted bilateral contacts and achieved certain results in humanitarian affairs and tourism. We hope to continue cooperation in culture with a view to laying a solid foundation for friendly ties between our nations. We both will invest our best efforts in it,” he said.

Attending the solemn opening ceremony of the Days of Chongqing Culture and Tourism in Minsk was Belarus Deputy Culture Minister Alexander Yatsko. He noted that the event is a logic continuation of the friendly relations between China and Belarus and that it will invigorate joint cultural ties.

The Days of Chongqing Culture and Tourism took place in Minsk on 14-15 July. Several thematic venues opened in the backyard of the Mikhail Savitsky Gallery. Representatives of the Chongqing Library, one of the world’s biggest libraries, invited visitors to taste a printed book and to write a Chinese hieroglyph. They also demonstrated ancient book copying techniques, VR book printing technologies and traditional Chinese calligraphy and art. The brochures distributed during the event contained information about the tourism potential of Chongqing and Minsk Oblast. Visitors were also invited to take part in quizzes and win over 200 prizes.

The art gallery hosts an exhibition Impressions of Chongqing Houses. The exhibition will stay open till 22 July.