The launch ceremony of the world's top tourism village federation was held in Anji county, Huzhou city, Zhejiang province on Oct 29. [Photo provided to China Daily]

A tourism village federation was founded in Anji county, Huzhou city, Zhejiang province on Oct 29. The move is aimed to boost international exchanges and cooperation in rural tourism, build a window for global communications in rural tourism, and promote high-quality development of rural tourism, according to the organizers at the launch ceremony that was hosted by Zhejiang provincial culture and tourism department and the Huzhou government.

Chen Guangsheng, director of the Zhejiang culture and tourism department, pointed out that rural tourism is a new blue ocean for future development, a driving wheel for deepening rural vitalization, a grand stage for promoting excellent traditional culture and building modern civilization of the Chinese nation.

It is also a bridge for enhancing world exchange and cooperation and creating a better life for the people, Chen says.

Zhejiang has set its sights on becoming a national model in rural tourism by 2026 and ultimately a well-known international rural tourism getaway. The province's Xiajiang and Yucun villages have been named the best tourism village by the World Tourism Organization.

China's rural tourism has taken solid steps on the path of diversification, branding, and internationalization, says Zhu Shanzhong, an official from the World Tourism Organization.

Zhu says he looks forward to more paths for the sustainable development of rural tourism with the joint efforts of all parties, providing Zhejiang and China samples for the innovative development of global rural tourism.