The International Tourism Alliance of Silk Road Cities is launched in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province on Sept 1. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]

The International Tourism Alliance of Silk Road Cities was recently launched in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, with 58 cities from 26 countries worldwide becoming its founding member cities.

Ningbo in East China's Zhejiang province was among said cities, which still included Dunhuang in Gansu, Kashgar in Xinjiang, Penang in Malaysia, Chiang Rai in Thailand, Minsk in Belarus, Hurghada in Egypt, and Istanbul in Turkiye.

A Ningbo delegation attended the launch ceremony and a series of other activities, including the International Forum on Culture and Tourism Development of Silk Road Cities 2023.

As the eastern starting port of the ancient Maritime Silk Road in China, Ningbo boasts many cultural relics related to the route, such as the Yongfengku Site, Tianfei Palace Site, Tianfeng Pagoda, Tiantong Temple, and Ashoka Temple. These destinations are increasingly popular among visitors.

In the future, Ningbo will assume responsibilities and obligations as a founding member city of the alliance. It will strengthen exchanges and cooperation with countries and regions along the Silk Road, jointly create a tourism brand, share the tourism market, and build a community of common interests in the tourism industry.

The International Tourism Alliance of Silk Road Cities was co-sponsored by the Chinese and Foreign Cultural Exchange Center of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and well-known tourism cities at home and abroad. Its purpose is to promote the spirit of the Silk Road, which emphasizes "peaceful cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit". The alliance aims to build a bridge for its member cities to deepen friendly exchanges and practical cooperation in the field of tourism.