|
June 1st, 2010
India, China relationship has global dimension: President Pratibha Patil
President Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil on May 31 said there was “enough space in the world for India and China to grow together" and their relationship had "a global dimension".
She emphasised that China “understands” and “supports” India’s desire for a permanent seat in a reformed United Nations Security Council. The President said this on board her special aircraft Air India One in a statement issued at the end of her six-day State Visit to Beijing, Luoyang and Shanghai.
President’s Statement:
"I have just completed my State visit to the People’s Republic of China. I had stated on my departure from India that the objective of my visit was to increase trust, friendship and understanding between India and China. My programme in China was geared towards this end. I believe, I have accomplished these goals.
My interactions with the Chinese leadership were warm, friendly and cordial. Our discussions were constructive, wide-ranging and fruitful. We agreed to expand, deepen and diversify the Strategic and Cooperative Partnership between our countries. We acknowledged that the India — China relationship has gone beyond its purely bilateral aspect and also has a global dimension. The commitment of the Chinese leadership to strengthening our ties was evident in all my meetings.
In my discussions with the Chinese leadership, I stressed that there is enough space in the world for India and China to grow together. Naturally, we discussed how our two countries can cooperate with each other as we meet the developmental aspirations of our peoples. I highlighted our desire to work with China in meeting the bilateral trade target of $60 billion in 2010. The trends of the first quarter of the year indicate that this is possible. After my discussions
Continued on Page 2
Top of page 
President hails Chinese People’s Association for promoting goodwill between India and China
President Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil recently said that the friendship between India and China was a time-tested one.
Addressing a gathering at the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries Reception on May 28, she said that the association played a vital role, as a bridge and promoted goodwill between India and China.
The President’s speech:
"It is a pleasure to be amongst all of you here today, many with old and cherished associations with India.
India and China have a time-tested friendship. It is a friendship forged in the crucibles of civilisation. In the long course of history, we have enriched each other through centuries of contact, free flow of goods, peoples and ideas. The rich grottos of Dunhuang and Yungang, the historical records of Fa Xian and Xuan Zang and the distinctive Chan Buddhist philosophy of Damo, are both a product of such civilisational intercourses and a common heritage of the two nations. One cannot but marvel at the spirit of ingenuity these early ambassadors of India-China amity embodied in themselves. The torchbearers of modern nationalism in India and China at the end of the 19th century continued to draw inspiration and learn from each other. Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao in China and Gurudev Tagore in India, sought each other out in search of a modernity that did not disown our illustrious past. The establishment of Cheena Bhavan in Gurudev Tagore’s Shantiniketan, to impart knowledge of China and Chinese language, and similar early initiatives at the prestigious Peking University to facilitate study of Indian history, philosophy and languages, signified continued relevance of each nation to the other. I am particularly glad that in Shanghai, I will be unveiling a bust of Gurudev Tagore, and that China on its part will support the setting-up of a “Tagore and China Gallery” in Kolkata.
In fact, the leaders of India’s freedom movement and the political leaders of China extended support to each other. In this, I recall the role played by the Aid China Medical Mission sent by India’s national leaders, to pledge our solidarity with the Chinese people, in their war of resistance against Japanese aggression in the late-1930s and the early-1940s.
Continued on Page 3
Top of page
President Patil dedicates Buddhist shrine in Luoyang
President Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil dedicates a grand Indian-style temple to China as a “gift from the people of India to a sister civilisation”. Addressing a gathering at the inauguration ceremony of the Indian-style Buddhist shrine at the White Horse Temple complex in Luoyang on May 29, she said that historically, it had the unique distinction of symbolising an inter-mingling of Indian and Chinese cultures.
President’s speech:
“It gives me great pleasure to be here in Luoyang to dedicate the Indian-style Buddhist Temple in the White Horse Temple complex, to friendship between the people of India and the people of China.
Luoyang is widely considered to be the cradle of Chinese civilisation. The White Horse Temple, being one of the first Buddhist Temples in China, has been a cultural and spiritual centre for centuries. Historically, it has the unique distinction of symbolising an inter-mingling of Indian and Chinese cultures. As the resting place of two great cultural ambassadors from India, the monk-scholars Kashyapamatanga and Dharmaratna, it is a reminder of how our civilisations enriched each other.
Located is such a significant place, the Indian-style Buddhist Temple is a gift from the people of India to a sister civilisation — one with which we share so many valuable associations and memories of interaction. It is particularly appropriate that this inauguration takes place during the 60th Anniversary year of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of India and the People’s Republic of China.
Continued on Page 2
On the other pages
« Back to India Digest Links
Top of page |
