During the conference, the cities agreed to work together closely to expand canal tourism, develop an "all-for-one" cooperative for tourism businesses in the cities, and to strive to raise the international profile of the Grand Canal.

This year was the first time that Wuxi had hosted the conference.

The city in East China is home to one of the best-preserved stretches of the 2,000-year-old waterway, and the historic streets lining the canal have become one of the biggest tourist attractions in the city, attracting thousands of visitors from across the world each year.

Ships transport goods along the Grand Canal. [Photo/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]