Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have noticed the fast development that Ghana has registered in recent years. Tourism is the fourth largest export after gold, cocoa and remittances with 1.3 million international tourists. I believe that the boom of China’s tourism will provide important opportunities for the development of Ghanaian tourism. Tourism is one of the most open economic sectors in China, especially since China was enrolled by the World Trade Organization. Foreign investments have come into all the sectors of China’s tourism. As early as 2006, China attracted nearly $93 billion USD from foreign investors. Today, the top ten hotels in the world have all started their operations in China. We welcome the investment from competitive foreign companies, including companies from Ghana.

Ghana is widely acclaimed as a shining star in Africa with sound investment environment and social stability. It is also a fascinating country blessed with savannas, woodlands, forests, coastal line, springs, waterfalls, wildlife parks and nature reserves, castles and forts. Serving as the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana for about 3 and half years, I have toured 8 out of the 10 regions in Ghana and fully experienced the beautiful natural scenery, profound history and colorful culture of Ghana. But to the most of the Chinese, they are not familiar with the Kakum National Park, Cape Coast Castle as well as other well-known tourist attractions in Ghana. There is much we can do to attract Chinese tourists to Ghana.

Now, we have witnessed that a number of Chinese companies are operating in Ghana mainly for infrastructure construction, which would lay a solid foundation for tourism. The impact of some projects contracted by Chinese companies on tourism will soon yield fruits. The Bui Hydro-electric Project and its environs are of extremely ornamental and tourist values. The on-going Cape Coast Sports Complex will further confirm Ghana as a center for regional sport events and boost the sports tourism in the country. Hotels, restaurants and shopping centers are also important elements for attracting Chinese tourists to Ghana. Given the close and fruitful cooperation between China and Ghana and the positive outlook of Ghana’s economy, Ghana could draw up some preferential policies to attract foreign, including Chinese investments to improve the infrastructure and ancillary services to boost Ghana’s tourism. Combining the advantages of China in technologies and funds and the abundant natural resources of Ghana, Ghana will see a burst of development in tourism industry.

The mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Ghana in the past decades, especially since the establishment of Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, has brought tangible benefits to our two peoples. It’s my firm belief that China-Ghana cooperation on tourism will also embrace a bright future through our joint efforts.

Thanks.