He Guangwei pledged to pay more attention to detail to ensure that tourists enjoy their holidays in the country even more.

He made the remarks during a meeting with American tourist Michael O'Shea, a 60-year-old teacher from Fulton-Montgomery Community College in New York State and his eight students.

President Jiang Zemin replied to a letter written by O'Shea in August last year and the president welcomed him and other US tourists and encouraged them to visit China to promote unofficial exchanges between the two countries.

In his letter to Jiang in May, O'Shea said: "I had a marvelous experience on my 10-day trip to Beijing and to Shanhaiguan in north China's Hebei Province."

"Mr O'Shea's pleasant experience in Beijing's Hebei Hotel, Hongqiao Market, Ditan Park (Altar of the Earth), and his experiences on subways and trains, as well as in taxis in Shanhaiguan Pass have proved that our tourist facilities are good," He said.

O'Shea's only complaint was that the group failed to stay at a guest house that was of Chinese style in Shanhaiguan, as the hotel lacked certifications to receive foreign guests. However, sources with the local government claim that improvements have since been made. Peng Ruoqian, an official with the Shanhaiguan district government of Qinhuangdao said he hoped more Americans would visit China for sightseeing and to gain a deeper understanding of China. In the first 11 months of last year the United States was reportedly the fourth biggest source of tourists for China, according to statistics released by the administration.

"O'Shea's letter is encouraging to American tourists, and is also a help to China's tourism market," He said.

"As an ordinary tourist, I was astonished to receive an answer from President Jiang," O'Shea said.

(China Daily April 16, 2002)