Jilin Party Secretary Bayinchaolu (middle) and the Russian Primorskiy Kray governor (right) getting a look at Jilin tourism products at the expo, on May 21. [Photo by Song Kai/ chinajilin.com.cn]

At the 19th Pacific International Tourism Expo that opened May 21, in the city of Vladivostok, in Russia's northeastern coastal area, Jilin provincial officials in the company of the governor of the region's Primorskiy Kray, toured the exhibits from Russia, China, Singapore, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, and other countries displaying a large number of tourism products.

This year's theme was "four colorful seasons" and it was Jilin province's 13th successive time to take part in the event, since 2003, and the results have been remarkable in mutual development of the tourism business in this cross-border region. Jilin borders Primorskiy Kray and the two areas have built a good partnership and are working on information sharing of travel agencies and tourist spots, cross-border travel routes, and stronger tie.

The Party chief, Bayinchaolu, who addressed the opening ceremony, said that Jilin itself has four distinct seasons and an interesting landscape and is a good summer resort and leisure spot. He said the province valued tourism a lot and had been improving tourism infrastructure and special programs based on its location, including ice and snow travel, ecological tours, border tours, hot springs, folk culture, countryside tours, and industrial tours.

The province has its improved tourism spots such as the Changbai Mountain scenic area, Koguryo Kingdom relics, Chagan River district, Songhua Lake district, and Xianghai National Reserve, and is attracting more tourists from Russia and other countries.

The officials got a tour of the expo after the ceremony and discussed Jilin's pavilion. This is the largest tourism industry expo in Russia's Far East and an influential display of tourism products of the Asia-Pacific region and Russia.