Ernest Wooden Jr., Vice-Chairman of WTCF Council Arrives in Beijing for Belt & Road Forum

On May 14th and 15th, the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation was held in Beijing. Mr. Ernest Wooden Jr., WTCF Vice-Chairman of the Council and Pres. and CEO of Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board (LATCB), was invited to attend the forum for further substantial cooperation under the Belt and Road initiative.

The theme of the forum is “strengthening international cooperation and co-building the 'Belt and Road' for win-win development” and is by far the largest-scale and highest-level international meeting initiated by China. It features an opening ceremony, a round-table summit of global leaders, and a high-level conference.

More than 1,500 delegates attended the forum, including a total of 29 heads of state and government leaders from 130 nations as well as representatives from more than 70 international organizations.

Recent years have witnessed the WTCF’s continuing efforts in promoting sustainable development and cooperation among the tourism cities along the Belt and Road. During the WTCF Rabat & Fez Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit 2015, held in the Kingdom of Morocco, the topic “Diversified Development in the Tourism Cities Along the Belt and Road” was tailor-made for the WTCF members in the West Asia and the North Africa. Additionally, a special program with the theme “Thousands of Chinese Tourists to Magnificent Morocco” was officially launched.

In January 2016, the International Forum on “One Belt One Road & Tourism Cooperation” was held in Altay, member of WTCF. At this Forum, attended by delegates from Kazakhstan, Russia, Mongolia, and Latvia, the “Cooperative Action Plan of China-Mongolia-Russia Cross-border Tourism Promotion Alliance in China” was signed. In March 2017, the WTCF Asia Pacific Tourism Conference was held in Penang, the famous Malaysian tourism city, with the theme “One Belt One Road: Development of Tourism Corridor and City Hub.” These forums were well received by WTCF members.

Mr. Ernest Wooden Jr. told the correspondent that it’s an honor to attend this Forum on the behalf of WTCF, and it’s also a privilege for Los Angles, for American tourism, and the world tourism cities to be involved in the great forum. He also highlighted the importance of city connectivity in strengthening people-to-people connectivity. Impressed by the quality service and unrivalled hospitality during the forum, Mr. Ernest Wooden Jr. said that the fast-growing China had set an excellent example for Los Angles, host of 2024 Olympic Games.

Los Angeles joined WTCF in 2012. As one of the five Vice-Chairman Cities of WTCF Council and one of the initiative member cities, Los Angles will be the host the WTCF Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit 2017 in September 2017. Mr. Ernest Wooden Jr.’s attendance at the Belt and Road Forum will further enhance the cooperation in WTCF, and promote tourism development in its member cities.