From mid next month, Chinese tour groups are to be allowed travel to the United States under a new deal agreed by the two countries.

US Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez made the announcement during his visit to China where he held high-level trade talks with Chinese officials, including head of China National Tourism Administration Shao Qiwei.

CRI reporter Ouyang has the story.

Reporter:

The US-China tourism Memorandum of Understanding was signed last December by the two countries. The latest announcement is part of its implementation.

The US Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez says the U.S. is excited by the prospect of welcoming Chinese guests.

"What excites us is the opportunity to welcome many, many Chinese leisure groups and tourists; to welcome them to the US. We are very excited about that. In the near future, we are very proud to show you our home."

America now is the fourth largest source of tourists for China. 2007 saw almost 2 million Americans traveling to China and 710,000 Chinese citizens making the US the first stop of their outbound tours. Despite these figures, both sides agree that there is still plenty of room for the expansion of U.S.-China tourism.

Head of China National Tourism Administration Shao Qiwei says the announcement marks a new beginning for tourism between the two countries.

"The June 17th start date for Chinese travel groups visiting the US marks the beginning of a new interactive stage for US-China Tourism."

According to the deal, Chinese citizens can go to America as leisure group travelers from June 17th of this year. Local tourist agencies will be the organizers for those activities. A range of 9 Chinese provinces and municipalities will participate in the first phase of the process. They include Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin. Central China's Hubei province will dispatch its first tour group to the US as the inaugural representative this June, which is timed to coincide with the fourth US-China Strategic Economic Dialogue to be held in Washington, D.C.

Ouyang, CRI news.