Indian Minister of Tourism and Culture Ambika Soni met with visiting Chinese press delegation on the afternoon of 23 April.

In her welcoming address, Minister Soni said the Indian government attached great importance to the exchanges between Chinese and Indian press people, which can promote tourist exchanges between the two countries. She briefed the delegation on Indian tourism and activities held in the India-China Friendship Year through Tourism. She said China and India would be the two major tourist markets in the next 15 years according to the data of world traveling organization. Noting that both countries boast for ancient history, grand scenes, modern shopping places and hotels, there should be more frequent exchanges in the tourism sector, and once tapped, the great potentials for the development of tourism of both countries would catch world's attention. Mr. Mei Ninghua, the head of the Chinese press delegation, also the vice president of All-China Journalists' Association and President of Beijing Daily Group, noted that as the press coverage about India increased in the recent years, many Chinese began to take more interest in India, which offered a good opportunity to promote Sino-India tourism. He expressed his brief that more and more Chinese people would travel to India as the two ancient civilizations increase their mutual exchanges. The visit of the Chinese press delegation is part of the China-India Friendship Year through Tourism.

The members of the delegation include senior reporters from All China Journalists' Association, Beijing Daily, CPPCC newspaper, tax newspaper, PLA Daily, Shijiangzhuang Daily, Ningxia TV Station and Fujian Journalists' Association.