“国之交在民相亲。”加强旅游合作，不仅是两国政府的共识，更是两国人民的心愿。
Since “two countries’ relation largely relies on people-to-people exchanges”, the enhancement of China-US tourism cooperation has been not only agreed by the two countries’ government but alsowished by their people.
旅游是高品位的人生活动。西方哲人说过，世界就像一本书，不旅行的人只读了其中第一页。
Tours are human activities which reveal refined tastes. One Western philosopher ever said, “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”
中国著名旅行家徐霞客说过一句名言：读万卷书，行万里路。现在喜爱旅游的中国人说，读万卷书，不如行万里路。
As a famous saying by the renowned traveller of ancient China Xu Xiake goes, “Read 10,000 books and travel 10,000 miles”. Now the Chinese travelling enthusiasts say that “Travelling a lot is better than reading a lot.”
旅游合作是中美经贸合作和人文交流最活跃、最具潜力的部分。
Tourism cooperation has become the most active and potential part of China-US economic & trade cooperation and their cultural & people-to-people exchanges.
近10年来，中美游客往来累计2800多万人次，年平均增长10%，平均每周有250个航班往返于中美之间，仅芝加哥到中国的航班每周就有30多个。
In the last decade, the tourists travelling between China and the UShave topped 28 million, growing at an average annual rate of 10%. There are averagely 250 flights flying between the two countries per week and those from Chicago to China alone exceeded 30.
旅游合作的持续发展，不仅给双方带来了经济利益，而且增进了两国人民之间的了解和友谊，为中美关系发展奠定了坚实的民意基础。
The continuous advancement in tourism cooperation brings the two sides economic profits and enhances their people’s understanding and friendship, laying a solid public opinion foundation for a betterChina-US relationship.
当前，中国人均GDP约7000美元，城乡居民消费需求快速升级，出国旅游意愿显著增强，旅游业正迎来黄金发展期。
Currently, China’s per-capita GDP has stood at about USD 7,000and the spending demands of both urban and rural residents are increasing rapidly.
中方鼓励更多城市对美国游客实行72小时过境免签政策，也希望美国进一步简化出入境手续，采取更加便利的签证措施，让游客乘兴而来，满意而归。
China will encourage more cities to carry out the 72-hour visa free transit policy for the US tourists and meantime hopes the US can further streamline its entry and exit formalities and take more efficient visa measures so that tourists can have a perfect travelling experience throughout the entire process.
