March 19 was named "China Day" at the second Moscow International Trade Fair for Travel and Tourism, Vladimir Strzhalkovsky, director of the Russian Federal Tourism Bureau, announced Monday.

 

A martial art performance by a young monk from central China's Shaolin Temple attracted many visitors' attention.

 

More than 200 representatives of tourism departments and companies from over 20 provinces in China took part in the fair. The China contingent's organizer, the National Tourism Administration, provided visitors with abundant information on culture and landscapes.

 

"It's very significant to name Monday China Day at this year's tourism fair," Ding Xiaoming, director of China's information center for the Year of China in Russia, said at China's exhibition pavilion, adding that he hopes the two countries can widely cooperate in tourism.

 

Countries that attended the exhibition, including South Korea, Vietnam, Norway, Italy and Greece, showcased their greatest tourism assets.

 

Many Russian regions were also represented at the fair, with Sochi taking pride of place. The Olympic bidding city showed visitors a snow world for the Olympic Games.

 

Russia has abundant tourism resources, and the country is improving its environment to develop tourism, said Boris Gryzlov, chairman of the State Duma.

 

More than 20,000 visitors attended the exhibition on the first day, 20 percent more than last year. The exhibition will close on Thursday. 

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 20, 2007)