New Delhi, August 13:

A 32-member Chinese tourism delegation will visit India from August 19-26 on an invitation extended by minister of tourism Ambika Soni to meet and discuss further cooperation between the two countries.

In line with the action plan ‘India-China year of friendship through tourism-2007’, the delegation led by Shao Qiwei, chairman of China’s National Tourism Administration (CNTA), will be composed of senior officials from CNTA and local tourism bureaus covering 13 Chinese provinces and municipalities. Besides the official delegation, a separate Chinese travel industry group and a performing art troupe with over 70 people will also come to India.

A string of events will be held in Delhi and Mumbai by the delegation. This includes the China-India tourism forum, organised in conjunction with the Indian Ministry of Tourism.

To be organised on August 20, the forum will be attended by Qiwei, Soni and Chinese ambassador Sun Yuxi, besides 120 delegates from both China and India. The forum will enable the officials of both countries to meet, exchange information and eventually lead to further cooperation betwe-en the two tourism industries. Among other events, there will also be a string of China tourism nights with a whole lot of Chinese songs, dances and acrobatics.