On November 19, the 4th International Seminar of China-CEEC Tourism College and University Alliance was held via video link. It was one of the parallel events of the 5th China-CEEC Capital Mayors Forum, co-organized by Beijing Union University and the Tourism Association of Canton Sarajevo. Representatives of 15 universities, enterprises and institutions from China and the CEEC attended the seminar. 

Anja Margetić, Deputy Mayor of Sarajevo, delivered a speech on behalf of Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the host city of the event. She called on Central and Eastern European countries to join hands with China to explore innovative ways of cooperation in the post-COVID period. She suggested using scenic spots such as the legacy sites of the Sarajevo Winter Olympics and new digital technologies to drive the recovery of global tourism and socioeconomic development.

Chu Guoqing, Secretary of the CPC Committee of Beijing Union University, made a keynote speech titled "Innovative Development of Chinese Tourism and Prospects of International Cooperation under the New Paradigm of Dual Circulation". He started from the significance of the tourism industry to global economic development and the role of China’s tourism in promoting global development, emphasizing the innovative development of Chinese tourism under the new paradigm. He discussed how the international tourism industry could recover in the post-COVID period and introduced the active role of universities in the development of global tourism industry.

Two signing ceremonies were held during the meeting. One was for the new member universities and the other was for the “2+2” dual-degree program that allowed students from the University of Donja Gorica to study in their home country for the first two years and study at Beijing Union University for the last two years of college.

The China-CEEC Tourism Colleges and Universities Alliance was initiated and established by Beijing Union University and the University of Donja Gorica during the 2nd China-CEEC Capital Mayors Forum in 2017. It aims at encouraging each member college and university to give full play to their respective strengths, integrate and share resources, and promote and deepen multilateral exchanges and cooperation in the fields of tourism and education based on the principle of “mutual respect, equality, shared benefit and cooperation”.

(Reporter: Zhang Shiqi)