WTCF Co-Sponsored with the United Nations on "Sustainable Urban Development and

In this roundtable meeting, the ambassadors to the United Nations spoke highly of the World Tourism Cities Federation launched by Beijing. Mr. Masood Khan, the Ambassador of Pakistan to the United Nations said that Pakistan and China have a very good friendship.

？

Beijing is a metropolis that combines the present and past. Beijing is also a hot travel destination city and I hope we can learn from each other. Miss Aitimova, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the United Nations said that the World Tourism Cities Federation is a very example that is made for strengthening connecting and boosting cities' sustainable development.

？

He also hoped to strengthen China-Kazakhstan's connection and learn experience from China to successfully hold the 2017 World Expo in Kazakhstan. Mr. De Sila Pell Kaya, the Indonesian Ambassador to the United Nations agreed that the Roundtable Meeting held by the World Tourism Cities Federation is a very good beginning to solve cities' development. Mr. Asoke Mu Maer Mukherjee, India's Ambassador to the United Nations congratulated this Roundatable Meeting by the World Tourism Cities Federation and complimented that Beijing is a city full of rich historical resources with dynamism.

？

He thought that the two sides should work together to develop green tourism, which is a very important function to the sustainable development of a city. Miss Maria Cristina Perceval, the Ambassador of Argentina to the United Nations thought that Beijing is a “City of Hope” and today’s roundtable meeting is a very good way to solve problems. Csaba K？r？si, the Hungarian Ambassador to the United Nations highly complimented that the World Tourism Cities Federation is a new international organization that is responsible for cities’ sustainable development and aims to establish harmonious relations. He also hoped that this federation can successfully move forward, face challenges and solve problems together. Francis Zinsou, the Ambassador of the Republic of Benin to the United Nations thought that Beijing is a city full of hope and we need to learn how to face challenges from Beijing and how to realize sustainable development. Beijing is leading the world’s development trend and we extremely hope to cooperate with it. Through this roundtable meeting, the World Tourism Cities Federation which has been increasingly highlighted by the United Nations will welcome new phases of development.

？

On May 9 to 12,2013, Mr. Lu Yong, Secretary General of the World Tourism Cities Federation, led a delegation to pay a visit to New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Ottawa and Los Angeles, and conducted effective communications on participating in the second Beijing Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit and joining the WTCF, which are of concerns to mutual sides.

？

As indicated by George Fadiga, CEO of NYC Tourism Board, despite the background that up till now NYC has never joined an international tourist organization, the municipal government is quite enthusiastic about joining the WTCF which was founded with the initiation by Beijing, and he also proposed that they immediately initiate the relevant process of joining the WTCF, and they planned to dispatch an observer to attend the second Beijing Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit.

？

Ms. Desiree Peterkin-Bell, City Representative of Philadelphia and Deputy Mayor in charge of tourism, warmly hosted WTCF delegation and exchanged ideas on the WTCF collaboration and membership specially during the busy day that Sweden royal family visited Philadelphia. Two sides prepared a MOU to ensure bilateral cooperation to enhance tourism promotion and benefit to the people in Beijing and Philadelphia. On behalf of the WTCF, the Secretary General of WTCF, also the Commissioner of the Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development sincerely invited Philadelphia to join the WTCF so as to better benefit to Philadelphia and to strengthen communication with all member cities around the world.

？

David Zipper, head of the business of strategic cooperation of Government of the District of Columbia, expressed their intention to join the WTCF, and would formerly sign the joining agreement during their visit to Beijing in June of a delegation of the DC government.

？

Ottawa is the one of the founding members and standing council members of the WTCF. Stephen Delex, vice Mayor of Ottawa, expressed his anticipation of leading the delegation to present the second Beijing Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit.