BEIJING — China's tourism authorities said Friday that the 2018 China-US dialogue on tourism will be held in Hangzhou next year.

The event will take place in the eastern China city in the latter half of 2018, according to China National Tourism Administration.

China and the United States have been taking turns to host the annual dialogue since the platform was launched in 2007, and it has become an important way for tourism regulators, associations and businesses to deepen communications.

In recent years, the two countries have stepped up tourism cooperation, supporting economic growth and facilitating exchanges between the countries.

In November 2014, the two countries extended visa validity for tourists from one to 10 years, and launched the China-US Tourism Year in 2016.