Madagascar's rich biodiversity and unique landscape, such as its clean water, lemurs, baobab trees and limestone formations with magnificent rocky spires, appeal to Chinese tourists.[Photo provided to China Daily]

He says the country's more than 5,000-kilometer coastline offers great potential for resorts.

The tourism ministry is making preparations for the expanding Chinese market, he says. For example, it is cooperating with the Confucius Institute to encourage local residents to learn Chinese. There is also training available for potential tour guides who can speak Chinese.

"Chinese tourists will love our cuisine, which is a mixture of Indonesian, Malaysian and Chinese. Ingredients are organic because local farmers don't have the habit of using fertilizers," he says.

Victor Sikonina, Madagascar's ambassador to China, says city dwellers can enjoy the beauty of forests, away from urban hustle-and-bustle. There are more than 40 national parks to better preserve the country's unique biodiversity and develop sustainable ecotourism.

"Tourism cooperation and interaction is an important part of China-Africa Cooperation," says the ambassador, whose Chinese father moved from Guangdong to Madagascar to work.

He says tourism is the best way to strengthen ties between people of the two countries and quoted an old Chinese saying: "It is better to travel 10,000 miles than to read 10,000 books.

"Our friendship can be dated back to the early 20th century, when Chinese settled on the island."

Contact the writer at xulin@chinadaily.com.cn