On February 13, 2025, the Consulate General of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Guangzhou, the Saudi Arabian Tourism Authority, and Saudi Arabian Airlines successfully jointly held the 2025 Saudi Arabian Tourism Promotion Conference and Appreciation Dinner with the theme of "Saudi Arabia - A Unique Inspiration Journey" in Guangdong. Dr. Abdullah bin Obiye, Consul General of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Guangzhou, first level researcher Kuang Changping from the Foreign Affairs Office (City Management) of the Guangzhou Municipal People's Government, representatives from the Guangdong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, representatives from the Saudi Arabian Tourism Bureau Guangzhou Office, and Chinese and foreign travel industry professionals attended the event together. Dr. Abdullah bin Obiye, Consul General of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Guangzhou, warmly welcomed the guests present at the event. He stated that as one of the most important and dynamic industries in Saudi Arabia, the tourism industry plays a central role in achieving Saudi Arabia's "Vision 2030" goals. As part of this vision, Saudi Arabia plans to attract 5 million Chinese tourists by 2030, which reflects our determination to promote cultural exchange and strengthen bilateral relations. Dr. Abdullah bin Obiye, Consul General of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Guangzhou, officially approved Saudi Arabia as a tourist destination for Chinese citizens on July 1, 2024, according to a new reporter's on-site investigation. Consul General Obiye pointed out that "this milestone marks an important step forward in welcoming Chinese tourists to experience Saudi Arabia's rich cultural heritage, magnificent landscapes, and unique hospitality." In addition, to ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey for Chinese tourists, multiple tourist destinations in Saudi Arabia have been equipped with Chinese language services, making it convenient for Chinese tourists to explore and immerse themselves in Saudi Arabia's charm. At the promotion event, representatives from the Saudi Arabian Tourism Authority introduced Saudi Arabia's natural scenery, cultural heritage, and various large-scale immersive cultural and tourism projects to the guests. The Red Sea, oases, mountains, deserts, and eight UNESCO selected world cultural heritage sites all blend the beauty of nature and culture. Riyadh, the heart of Arabia, the millennium old secret land of El Ola, and the ancient city of Jeddah, where poetry and the sea blend, are all popular tourist destinations worldwide. The reporter also learned that there are 23 direct flights from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong to Saudi Arabia each week, which greatly facilitates the exchanges between the two peoples. Since 2019, Saudi Arabia has officially implemented electronic visas, which are available to 66 countries and regions including China. Passengers can apply for an electronic visa that is valid multiple times a year and can stay in Saudi Arabia for up to 90 days. In recent years, more and more Saudi friends have entered China, wandering among the magnificent mountains and rivers, immersed in the profound cultural heritage of thousands of years, and experiencing the local customs and unique charm of the land of China. 2025 marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Saudi Arabia, and is also known as the 'China Saudi Arabia Cultural Year'. In recent years, under the leadership of the "the Belt and Road" initiative and Saudi Arabia's "2030 Vision", China and Saudi Arabia have witnessed all-round cooperation in various fields, further promoting exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations of the two countries, and deepening friendship and mutual understanding between the two peoples. Looking forward to the future, the mutual integration and exchange of the two ancient civilizations will certainly glow with new brilliance, the millennium Silk Road friendship will repeat new stories, and the "heart to heart connectivity" of the two peoples will reach a new level. (News Agency) Article: Yi Chunyan, Chen Xinyan Picture: Yi Chunyan