Firms help neighbors in tourism, culture

To strengthen the nation's trade and investment ties with other countries, Chinese enterprises are forging stronger cultural bonds among participating regions along the route of Belt and Road Initiative.

Chinese social organizations, private enterprises and national industrial institutes have expanded their footprints all over the world. Adapting to local needs, they have launched various services, forging greater understanding and friendship with locals around the world.

One example is the World Tourism Cities Federation, which aims to inject new life into the global tourism industry. The World Tourism Cities Federation organized a forum under the theme "The Belt and Road Initiative Tourism Cities" in Malaysia on March 26.

Aiming to seize the historical opportunities brought about by the Belt and Road Initiative, the federation called for the construction of a tourism corridor through key cities among participating countries.

Established in Beijing in September 2012, the federation has become the first international tourism organization to be named after a city. Its members have now expanded to 182 from 58 at the beginning of its establishment.

The members comprise 121 cities, including Barcelona, Los Angeles and Berlin, and 61 institutes, including world famous travel agencies, media, airports, airlines, hotels and financial companies.

The World Tourism Cities Federation pledges to supplement the Belt and Road initiative on eight fronts: tourism, infrastructure, consulting services, personnel training, information exchange, tourism investment, industrial standardization and promotion.

Exporting TV to Africa

Another example is Startimes' commitment to sharing digital TV with African people. Watching TV is common among Chinese people, but a luxury for many in Africa. Due to less developed economies and monopolies in the industry, many households cannot enjoy TV. As a private enterprise in Beijing, Startimes began to expand its business to the continent in 2003 and introduced digital TV to African people that hadn't experienced it before.

In 2007, the company started its first branch in Rwanda. Since then, it has opened branches in more than 30 countries, including Nigeria, Guinea, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi and Mozambique.

With more than 9 million African clients, the company has become the most rapidly developing digital TV service provider in the past 10 years.

The reasonable price of its service has shortened the distance between TV and the African audience, which is appreciated by many African countries, said Guo Ziqi, vice-president of the company.

"It is impressive to see the excitement and curiosity in the eyes of the African children when they watch TV shows for the first time," Guo said.

liyou@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 05/14/2017 page27)