The preparatory conference for the 2017 World City Ice and Snow Tourism Cooperation Organization is held in Harbin, Heilongjiang province on Jan 5, 2017. [Photo/dbw.cn]

The preparatory conference for the 2017 World City Ice and Snow Tourism Cooperation Organization (WCISTCO) was held in Harbin, Heilongjiang province on Jan 5, 2017.

As part of the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival, this organization aims to expand cooperation between ice and snow tourism cities across the world, improve Harbin’s international profile and promote the development of China’s ice and snow tourism industry.

Thirty-four cities and non-governmental organizations attended the conference, including Edmonton, Canada; Magdeburg, Germany; and Aarhus, Denmark.

Officials who attended the conference include Song Xibin, the mayor of Harbin; Heikki Otto, a senior official fromFinland; and Feng Litao, the deputy director of the National Tourism Administration.

Song urged the building of a platform for cities to learn from each other and promote common development of the ice and snow tourism industry.

"Harbin plays a leading role in ice and snow tourism development in China,” he said.

"Harbin has actively conducted international exchanges and cooperation with foreign cities and will make every effort to further promote ice and snow tourism development in both China and across the world,” he added.

Representatives from over 10 international organizations and business chambers attend the preparatory conference for the 2017 World City Ice and Snow Tourism Cooperation Organization (WCISTCO) held on Jan 5, 2017 in Harbin. [Photo/dbw.cn]

Otto mentioned that as a world famous ice and snow tourism city, Harbin initiated the founding of WCISTCO and has been working for five years on the holding of the preparatory meeting.