China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) last Thursday officially launched the China-ASEAN Year of Tourism, with two sides vowing to enhance tourism cooperation. Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang attended the launching ceremony and made a speech in Manila, the capital city of the Philippines, where he was on a four-day visit.

Wang Yang said China and ASEAN have been enjoying rapid economic development and people's livelihood has greatly improved, adding that a mass tourism era has come.

"China and ASEAN are close friendly neighbors. We have been each other's largest destinations of overseas visits and largest sources of overseas visitors," he pointed out.