An agreement to promote health maintenance tourism in 10 cities in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region and Guangdong province was signed in a joint conference held in the city of Yunfu, Guangdong, on Oct 20-21.

The 10 cities in the regional tourism cooperative organization include Zhanjiang, Maoming, Yunfu and Yangjiang in Guangdong, and Beihai, Fangchenggang, Yulin, Qinzhou, Guigang and Laibin in Guangxi. They formed a tourism cooperation alliance and communicated with each other by holding a rotating joint conference every year.

More than 180 government officials, representatives from the cities' tourism administrative departments and tourism enterprises took part in the conference and introduced local tourism conditions.

Jia Yucheng, deputy director of Guangxi Tourism Development Committee, pointed out that the 10 cities' tourism cooperation alliance is not only a pioneering undertaking, but also a successful experience. It helps the cities integrate urban resources, interact with markets and complement each other's advantages.

Huang Qiangyu, minister of Fangchenggang's publicity department, said at the conference that Fangchenggang is located in the key part of the Beibu Gulf Economic Zone and has abundant natural resources, profound history and culture, beautiful scenery and rich folk customs. It has become a popular tourism destination and has contributed to the development of the alliance.

Initiated in 2004, the joint conference has so far been held 12 times. The city of Qinzhou in Guangxi will be the next sponsor in 2016.

Representatives of the 10 cities in Guangxi and Guangdong show their agreement at the joint conference held in Yunfu, Guangdong, on Oct 21. [Photo by Huang Yaohui/Chinanews.com]

Qinzhou's Deputy Mayor Chen Lizhi (L) takes over the flag representing the sponsorship from Yunfu's Mayor Zhuo Zhiqiang at the joint conference held in Yunfu, Guangdong, on Oct 21. [Photo by Huang Yaohui/Chinanews.com]

By Feng Lu and edited by Mevlut Katik