emirates7 - Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais, the incoming Secretary-General of UN Tourism for the 2026–2029 term, met with Zhang Yiming, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the UAE, in Abu Dhabi to discuss enhancing cooperation in the tourism sector.
Their talks focused on building partnerships to support cultural and tourism initiatives that promote knowledge exchange and economic growth in tourism and related fields.
Al Nowais reiterated her commitment to collaborating with international partners—particularly China—to develop strategic initiatives in sustainable and cultural tourism. She highlighted China’s vibrant tourism industry as a vital contributor to global tourism growth and cross-cultural engagement.
“We appreciate China’s ongoing efforts to promote tourism and build partnerships in this space,” Al Nowais said. “We aim to deepen cooperation in education, training, and tourism innovation through global training initiatives that will strengthen the skills of the tourism workforce, enrich cultural tourism offerings, and promote sustainable development in rural areas.”
The two sides identified shared priorities, including empowering local communities and leveraging China’s expertise and capabilities. They also discussed improving tourism connectivity between countries and regions through both bilateral and multilateral cooperation in line with global UN tourism frameworks.
Both parties stressed the importance of uniting international efforts to position tourism as a means of connecting cultures and driving sustainable development and youth engagement. They underscored the need for updated policies that promote diversity, encourage innovation, and safeguard natural and cultural resources.
Their talks focused on building partnerships to support cultural and tourism initiatives that promote knowledge exchange and economic growth in tourism and related fields.
Al Nowais reiterated her commitment to collaborating with international partners—particularly China—to develop strategic initiatives in sustainable and cultural tourism. She highlighted China’s vibrant tourism industry as a vital contributor to global tourism growth and cross-cultural engagement.
“We appreciate China’s ongoing efforts to promote tourism and build partnerships in this space,” Al Nowais said. “We aim to deepen cooperation in education, training, and tourism innovation through global training initiatives that will strengthen the skills of the tourism workforce, enrich cultural tourism offerings, and promote sustainable development in rural areas.”
The two sides identified shared priorities, including empowering local communities and leveraging China’s expertise and capabilities. They also discussed improving tourism connectivity between countries and regions through both bilateral and multilateral cooperation in line with global UN tourism frameworks.
Both parties stressed the importance of uniting international efforts to position tourism as a means of connecting cultures and driving sustainable development and youth engagement. They underscored the need for updated policies that promote diversity, encourage innovation, and safeguard natural and cultural resources.