N. China's Inner Mongolia strives to promote people-to-people exchanges under BRI in 2023

Tourists take pictures at Yikesama national forest park of Mangui Township in Hulunbuir, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Dec. 21, 2017. (Xinhua/Li Renzi)

North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region has leveraged its regional advantages to promote people-to-people exchanges with Belt and Road (BRI) partner countries in recent years.

In 2023, Inner Mongolia achieved progress in promoting the cross-border tourism programs. For example, Hulunbuir City in the region introduced tour routes linking Russia and Mongolia. Along the routes, tourists can not only appreciate majestic winter scenery, but also experience authentic local culture. 

In addition, Inner Mongolia also organized enterprises and institutes to participate in the tourism expos held in Mongolia and Russia last year in an effort to promote the regional exchanges in culture and tourism. 

Meanwhile, the region also carried out extensive cooperation in areas like medical care, education, media, and think tanks with the Belt and Road partner countries, fostering a new era of diverse people-to-people exchanges.

In the future, the region will stay committed to further contributing to the BRI and building itself into an important bridgehead for China's opening up to the north, according to an official of the Development and Reform Commission of Inner Mongolia. (Edited by Hu Pingchao, Xie Weijia, hupingchao@xinhua.org)