Seminar on Tropical Agro-Tourism Development Concludes in Hainan, Strengthening Cooperation Among Developing Countries
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Hainan, China – A two-week Seminar on Tropical Agro-Tourism Development and Planning for Developing Countries has concluded in Haikou, Hainan Province, after bringing together 33 participants from developing countries to strengthen cooperation and share knowledge on sustainable agricultural and rural tourism development.
The seminar, sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and organized by the International Cooperation and Exchange Center of the Department of Commerce of Hainan Province, from the 1st to the 14th July formed part of China’s foreign assistance training programme aimed at promoting international development cooperation and strengthening ties with developing nations.
Throughout the 14-day programme, participants attended lectures, case studies, seminars and field visits focusing on tropical agro-tourism, rural revitalization, agricultural product branding, tourism planning and sustainable rural development.
The participants also visited several model projects across Hainan, including Shihan Village, Qiongzhong Xinwei Tea Factory, Hainan Long Workshop Regional Headquarters, and the Sanya Damao Ocean Ecological Protected Cultivation Base, where they observed successful examples of integrating agriculture, culture, tourism and technology to promote rural economic growth.
Speaking during the closing ceremony, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation and Exchange Center of the Department of Commerce of Hainan Province, Chen Yuwen, congratulated the participants on successfully completing the programme and thanked the organizing team for their dedication.
She described foreign assistance training as an important component of China’s international development cooperation and a practical effort to implement the Global Development Initiative by sharing China’s modernization experience with developing countries.
“China and developing countries share a profound traditional friendship. We have always upheld the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit while carrying out fruitful cooperation in areas such as trade, infrastructure, agriculture, culture and tourism,” she said.
Chen noted that tropical agro-tourism has become an important tool for promoting sustainable rural development by combining agriculture, tourism, environmental conservation and value-added agricultural production. She said many developing countries possess favourable tropical climates and rich agricultural resources, giving them significant potential to develop the sector.
She expressed confidence that the knowledge gained during the seminar would help participants identify practical approaches suitable for their respective countries while strengthening future cooperation with China.
Chen encouraged participants to serve as ambassadors of friendship between China and their home countries by promoting greater collaboration in agriculture, cultural tourism, agricultural trade and rural development.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, Nakan Gabriel Feliciano of the Philippines thanked the Ministry of Commerce of China and the Hainan Provincial Department of Commerce for providing what he described as a valuable opportunity for learning, cultural exchange and international cooperation.
He also expressed appreciation to the lecturers, experts and organizing staff whose efforts made the programme successful.
“This training programme has not only expanded our understanding of agritourism and rural development, but has also deepened our appreciation of the importance of cooperation, innovation and shared growth among developing countries,” he said.
Feliciano noted that many participating countries share similar tropical agricultural conditions with Hainan and face common challenges, including increasing the value of agricultural products, strengthening rural industries, creating employment opportunities and promoting inclusive economic growth.
He said the participants gained practical knowledge on integrating agriculture with tourism, culture, technology and entrepreneurship to create sustainable livelihoods for rural communities.
“The field visits allowed us to witness firsthand successful examples of rural revitalization where agricultural resources have been transformed into sustainable tourism attractions while protecting the environment and improving rural livelihoods,” he said.
Feliciano added that beyond technical knowledge, the seminar strengthened friendships among participants from different countries and reinforced the spirit of South-South cooperation.
He pledged that participants would apply the lessons learned in Hainan to their respective countries and continue promoting cooperation with China in agriculture, technology exchange and sustainable rural development.
During their stay in Hainan, participants also met Liu Kai, Member of the Standing Committee of the Wuzhishan Municipal Party Committee and Deputy Mayor of the Wuzhishan Municipal People’s Government. They toured several important sites, including the scenic Five Finger Mountain, gaining further insight into Hainan’s rural revitalization initiatives and eco-tourism development.
The seminar concluded with renewed commitments from both organizers and participants to strengthen international cooperation in tropical agriculture, rural tourism and sustainable development for the benefit of developing countries.
