President Xi sends message to the closing of China-US Tourism Year 2016

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a message to the closing ceremony of China-US Tourism Year 2016 in Washington D.C.on Sunday.

Here is the full text of the message.

As the China-US Tourism Year 2016 draws to a close, I would like to extend, on behalf of the Chinese government and people and in my own name, warm congratulations on the success of Tourism Year and heartfelt thanks to friends who have long been committed to the growth of China-US relations and friendly exchanges and cooperation between our countries.

President Obama and I made the decision to hold the China-US Tourism Year with a view to promoting the building of a new model of major-country relationship, taking forward practical cooperation and enhancing people-to-people friendship between our countries. Thanks to the joint efforts of both sides, the Tourism Year has been marked with colorful and fruitful events, which have helped expand our people-to-people exchanges and practical cooperation in various areas, and injected new impetus into China-US relations.

The growth of China-US relations requires the participation and support of our peoples. I hope that the two sides will build on the success of the China-US Tourism Year to sustain the momentum of people-to-people and cultural exchanges, enhance the mutual understanding and friendship between our two peoples, and reinforce the social foundation for the development of China-US relations.