Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Wednesday that he hoped his visit to China could help further tourism cooperation between the two countries.

Harper made the remark while attending an opening ceremony held in Beijing for the Canadian Tourism Commission's 2012 summer tourism marketing campaign.

"The tourism industry is particularly valuable," Harper said, adding that the industry has created jobs and economic growth in every region of Canada.

Harper said Canada has enjoyed increasing numbers of Chinese visitors since China granted Canada approved destination status during Harper's first visit in 2009.

In the past year, nearly a quarter of a million Chinese have visited China, a 25-percent year-on-year increase, Harper said.

Harper is currently paying a five-day official visit to China, with Canadian Minister of International Trade Edward Fast joining his delegation.

According to the Canadian Embassy to China, tourism is an important source of revenue for the country, bringing in 15 billion U.S. dollars in 2010.

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