VLADIVOSTOK -- The 5th Russian-Chinese forum dedicated to training tourism industry staff opened in Vladivostok Tuesday.

The event is being held within the framework of the Year of Russian Tourism in China.

The main theme of this year's forum is "International education for the benefit of the tourism industry: new opportunities for the expansion of Russian-Chinese cooperation".

Addressing the opening ceremony, Deputy Director of the Federal Agency for Tourism of the Ministry of Culture of Russia Yevgeny Pisarevsky said that travel industry staff need to have a wide range of knowledge to provide a high level of service to the tourists.

Russia's Federal Agency for Tourism attaches great importance to improving the level of education of the travel industry personnel, said the deputy director, adding that at the moment, Russia has nearly 400 colleges and universities training travel industry personnel.

Vice-President of China Tourism Association Liu Jinping said that China and Russia are linked by common mountains and rivers, with cultural exchange between the two sides constantly expanding and tourism cooperation strengthening.

The vice president said at present, China is training tourism industry staff to develop the industry and China's tourism education has broad prospects.

A number of presentations showing the potential of Russian-Chinese tourism cooperation and thematic workshops will be held as part of the forum which will last until Oct 19.