A series of activities have been and will be held to mark the 35th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan relations in 2007, Shao Qiwei, director of China National Tourism Administration, said Saturday.

The opening ceremony of China-Japan tourism year was held in Tokyo in March this year and a closing ceremony will be held in China's southern city of Guangzhou next March, Shao said.

The second round of tourism ministerial meeting of China, the Republic of Korea and Japan will be held in Qingdao and Dalian next July, according to Shao.

The two nations will also carry out tourism activities in sister cites and cities that have direct flights. The director expressed the hope that Japan adopts more active measures in relaxing visa issuance.

Tourism exchanges will enhance bilateral understanding and trust, and increase bilateral friendship, Shao said.

(Xinhua News Agency December 3, 2006)