On November 1 local time, Premier Li Keqiang and Speaker of the National Assembly Chung Ui-hwa of the Republic of Korea (ROK) jointly attended and addressed the closing ceremony of "China Tourism Year" at the National Assembly Proceeding Hall in Seoul.

The closing ceremony was started with national anthems of the two countries.

In his address, Li Keqiang extended his congratulations on the success of 2015 "China Tourism Year" held in the ROK. He expressed that tourism is not only an economic activity but also people-to-people and cultural exchanges. China and the ROK enjoy geographical proximity, similar humanities, shared feelings and sentiments as well as rich and unique natural and human landscapes. Both countries are each other's largest outbound tourist destination with more than ten million times of personnel exchanges in a year. The successful "China Tourism Year" in the ROK is not a finishing point but rather a new beginning. The "ROK Tourism Year" will be held in China next year. The Chinese government encourages more citizens to travel around the ROK while welcomes the ROK people to visit China's famous mountains and great rivers. It is believed to enhance mutual understanding between the two peoples and further consolidate the public support for China-ROK friendship.

Li Keqiang pointed out that the world economy is undergoing a tough process of recovery. The development of tourism can not only boost economic growth and create jobs, but also stimulate consumption and enhance confidence. It is hoped that the tourism industries in China and the ROK will enhance communication and mutual learning so as to create more business opportunities and jointly create a brand new future for China-ROK tourism cooperation.

Chung Ui-hwa expressed that the ROK and China enjoy close people-to-people relations and similar cultures. Bilateral relations have developed from a canal formed when water comes to a torrent running into the ocean. The "China Tourism Year" has made a breakthrough of ten million times in ROK-China personnel exchanges in a year, enhancing friendship between the two peoples. The ROK stands ready to seize the opportunity of "ROK Tourism Year" held in China next year to lift bilateral cooperation in tourism and other fields up to a new level.