Telangana Reuters, Hyderabad, 15 October 2026: CD Foundation convened World & Us — Tourism, Hospitality & Wellness Summit 2026 at The Park Hyderabad, bringing together diplomatic representatives, tourism and hospitality leaders, educators, institutional partners and the media to advance dialogue on India–China cultural exchange and future collaboration.
Held in collaboration with The Park Hyderabad and Reyansh College of Hotel Management, and with the participation of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, the summit was organised around the theme “Connecting Destinations, Cultures & Opportunities.” The programme spotlighted the potential of tourism, cuisine, hospitality and education to deepen people-to-people ties between India and China, two civilisations with longstanding cultural connections.
A key highlight was the participation of Mr. Wang Xinming, Minister Counsellor for Tourism and Culture, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China. His address, together with a Chinese tourism audiovisual presentation, offered guests insights into China’s destinations, cultural heritage and opportunities for stronger tourism engagement. A traditional Chinese tea ceremony and Chinese cuisine transformed the theme of cultural exchange into a shared, immersive experience for participants.
Ms. Charu Das, Founder & Director, CD Foundation, used the summit to outline the organisation’s broader vision for cultural diplomacy and international engagement. Through cultural and culinary programmes, destination showcases, delegation visits and dialogue with diplomatic missions, CD Foundation connects institutions, businesses and communities to build meaningful relationships across borders.
She described World & Us as an international platform designed to help Indian states and institutions engage with global partners, while enabling international partners to discover opportunities for cooperation, investment, tourism and knowledge exchange in India.
With Hyderabad hosting this edition, Telangana emerged as a central focus of the discussion. Ms. Das proposed developing sustained collaborations between Telangana and different provinces of China through cultural programmes, tourism promotion, institutional partnerships, chef exchanges and visits by professional, educational and business delegations.
She also called for exploring stronger direct air connectivity between Hyderabad and Chinese cities, as well as the possibility of establishing a Chinese cultural centre and a Chinese consular office in Hyderabad. Presented as avenues for future consideration, these proposals could support expanded cultural, educational, tourism and commercial engagement between Telangana and China.
Ms. Das thanked the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Wang Xinming and the Embassy team for their participation and for bringing Chinese tourism, culture and cuisine closer to Indian audiences. She emphasised that lasting international relationships are built not only through formal dialogue, but also through opportunities for people to meet, share traditions and experience one another’s cultures directly.
The Park Hyderabad served as both venue and hospitality collaborator, demonstrating the role of hotels, restaurants and culinary experiences in cultural exchange and destination promotion. Mr. Ajit Garcha, AVP, The Park Hyderabad, joined the programme and contributed to the summit’s focus on hospitality as a bridge between cultures.
Reyansh College of Hotel Management brought the perspective of hospitality education through an audiovisual presentation and an address by Chef Gaddam Mahendar, Director, highlighting the importance of preparing future professionals to work across cultures and international markets.
The summit reinforced CD Foundation’s commitment to using tourism, hospitality, wellness, cuisine and education as platforms for international understanding. By bringing together diplomatic missions, state-level stakeholders, hospitality institutions and industry leaders, the Hyderabad edition created a foundation for continued India–China engagement and opened discussion on practical opportunities for collaboration between Telangana and Chinese partners.
