The officials of Shandong Province of China and Nepal agreed Wednesday to enhance tourism and cultural exchanges between the two sides.

 

Wang Xiuzhi, vice chairman of Shandong Provincial Committee of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and Nepali Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yankila Sherpa agreed for mutual exchanges in the field of tourism and culture during a meeting in Kathmandu.

 

"More and more people from Shandong want to visit Nepal, so, we are looking forward for more mutual cooperation," Wang said at the meeting.

 

The local government of Shandong has paid special attention to tourism development and to the opening of it to the outside, Wang noted, adding, "We also hope to work together with the Nepali side in tourism development."

 

"Nepalese are very happy to share ideas with Chinese as China is our oldest friend and the friendship has never been broken," Sherpa said at the function.

 

Nepal can learn a lot from economic and tourism development of Shandong Province, Sherpa said, adding, "We can develop cultural and tourism exchanges which will be mutually beneficial."

 

A five-member delegation led by Wang arrived in Kathmandu on Monday for a four-day visit to Nepal.

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 20, 2006)