Tourism ministers and officials from China, Japan and South Korea gathered in Zhejiang province this month to discuss environmentally sustainable practices.

The Fifth Trilateral Tourism Ministers' Meeting held in Hangzhou focuses on environmentally sustainable issues. Representatives from China, Japan and South Korea attended the meeting.

Some 400 people attended the four-day event in Hangzhou, including Maehara Seiji, Japan Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Yoo In-Chon, Minister of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, South Korea and Zhejiang Governor Lu Zushan.

All three attending nations signed a proposal to control carbon emissions in regional tourism development efforts.

International tourism cooperation has increased in recent years, said Lu. "Now, we hope to take it to a new level," he said.

All three attending nations signed a proposal to control carbon emissions in regional tourism development efforts. The agreement comes after the recent UN Copenhagen Accord on sustainable practices.

China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) Chairman Shao Qiwei reported that 160 million global tourists visited East Asia in 2009.

That number accounts for 18 percent of the world's total and 88 percent of all tourists within Asia-Pacific regions, he said.

The number of tourists traveling to China, Japan and South Korea is expected to reach 26 million by 2015.

Yoo In-chon can understand the draw. He was eager to take his family sightseeing in Hangzhou.

"Many of my friends have been here and visited the West Lake. They told me it was very beautiful," he said.

Shao Qiwei also praised the area. "Hangzhou deserves the title of 'China's best tourism city'. It lies in the country's most developed region and it has the potential to boost its tourism industry by integrating modern technology," he said.

Maehara added that the low-carbon practices in Hangzhou's hotels moved him. He believed the city must pay great attention to environmental protection in other areas as well.

The trilateral tourism meeting represents one of the world's most successful tourism cooperation frameworks. It was co-organized by CNTA and the provincial government of Zhejiang.

By Jia Wei (China Daily)