China is fulfilling its commitment as a member the World Trade Organization by speeding up the opening of its tourism market to foreign investors, said Zhang Xiqin, deputy director of the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA).

He said China had allowed a Japanese tourist company, JAL International Travel Service, to enter the Chinese market in July as the first solely-foreign-owned travel agency in China, four years ahead of China's promise to the World Trade Organization.

Zhang said China was taking steps to cooperate with more foreign travel agencies, such as German company the TUI Group, which had joined with China Travel Service to set up a foreign capital-controlled travel agency in China.

Zhang said that with more leading travel agencies eyeing the Chinese market, was showing the world an attractive market with many business opportunities.

China hoped more foreign investors would come and encouraged more Chinese companies to "go out" to develop in overseas markets, said Zhang in Beijing Sunday at the opening of the 15th session of the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization (WTO).

The China National Tourism Administration has established 16 branch offices outside, and there are ten joint-venture travel agencies in China. By Nov. 1, there will be 28 destination countries or regions approved for Chinese tour groups, he said.

(People's Daily October 20, 2003)