Address by the President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee at Embassy of India and Chinese People’s Association
Address by the President of India, Shri Pranab
Mukherjee at the reception for cultural and academic personalities/eminent
persons co-hosted by Embassy of India and Chinese People’s Association for
friendship with foreign countries
1. It is an honour for me to
address this gathering of distinguished cultural and leading academic
personalities of China.
2. I
particularly appreciate the presence of H.E. Mr Li Yuanchao, Vice President of the
People’s Republic of China. His presence here today testifies to the
high importance that China also attaches to the enduring academic and cultural
exchanges between our two ancient civilizations.
Friends,
3. Many
of you are old friends of India; you have made important contributions to the
strengthening of the mutual understanding and friendship between our two
countries. Through your inspiring work and achievements, you have shown the way
for the future of this important relationship.
4. I
thank the Chinese People's Association for Friendship
with Foreign Countries for inviting me here today. At the very outset, I
would like to express my deep appreciation for the valuable contribution of
this Association in fostering regular exchanges between our two peoples for
over six decades.
Ladies and gentlemen,
5. My
own association with China goes back several decades. I am among those who
firmly believe that ours is a defining partnership of the 21st
century. As mentioned by Prof Tan Yunshan, a great friend and
scholar of India, "Sino-Indian relations are the most important of
the most important."
6. I
also believe that the thriving academic and cultural exchanges that had defined
our ancient contacts will continue to be a foundational component of our
partnership.
7. As
we are aware, our first contacts were probably consolidated and recorded by the
brilliant exchanges between the scholar-monks of our countries, including
Kumarajiva, Boddhidharma, Xuan Zang and Fa Xian. Pioneering scholars like Dr.
Prafulla Chandra Bagchi, Prof P.V. Bapat, Prof. Ji Xian Lin and Prof. Wu
Xiaoling have presented evidence of our rich and diverse cultural contacts. It
is important to clarify that these ancient exchanges were not merely centered
on Buddhism or promoted solely by monks. Indeed Buddhism was the
vehicle for exchange of knowledge and culture during the Golden Age of the
Guptas in India and at the time of the Tang dynasty in China, but recent
research has unveiled contacts over a longer historical time-frame encompassing
many more areas. We see that envoys were exchanged with the Tang dynasty,
between the Song Emperors and the Chalukya and Pallava Kings of southern India,
and even between the Ming Emperor Yong Le with the Muslim Sultan Ghiyas-uddin
of Bengal in the first quarter of the 15th century. Exchange of knowledge
encompassed medicine, science and law, besides sacred texts. Chinese coins
found in Tamil Nadu span a thousand year period from the Sui to the Song
Dynasties; the remains of temples in Quanzhou testify to these age-old
contacts.
8. More
recently, the leaders of our national movements gave each other inspiration and
support. Few in China are aware that in the mid-nineteenth century,
intellectuals of Bengal including Keshub Chandra Sen and Romesh Chandra Dutt
had been staunch and vocal critics of Britain's opium trade with China. Many
Indians do not know that during the First World War, Sun Yat Sen had assisted
Indian revolutionary, Rash Behari Bose to escape arrest by the British.
9. In
other fields of culture as well – such as dance, art and music, our
traditions have mingled. Dun Huang and Ajanta are examples. Modern
Chinese artists like Xu Bei Hong and Zhang Da Qian drew inspiration from their
visits to India in the 1930s. Tagore, himself, was inspired by his
experiences in China - which are reflected in his works. Indian films were
popular in China in the 1950s. Songs from the film, “Awara” were
also popular in China, and today, Chinese films are as popular with
the Indian public as they are in China.
10. Thus the
rich culture at the heart of our two civilizations is also at the core of our
people-to-people friendship. Why do I say so? Studies have shown that while
knowledge flowed freely between us, it was simultaneously enriched by both our
peoples. Our cultural interaction was so harmonious it created syncretic
cultures in South East Asia and Central Asia which were neither wholly Indian
nor Chinese but a colourful confluence of both.
11. Indeed,
thenature of the cultural contacts between our countries should be seen as a
model for civilisational contacts and peaceful exchanges in the 21st Century.
Excellencies,
12. As
India pursues its primary goal of building a modern India, , focused on peace,
prosperity and sustainable development we seek to engage with China in a spirit
of equality and friendship. We seek to develop a matrix of cross-cutting
contacts to enhance our mutual understanding and enrich
our bilateral discourse. Far too often, we rely on borrowed prisms
and secondary sources to understand each other. We seek to overcome this by
increasing direct exchanges and enabling people on both sides to invest in each
other's progress.
13. I
have had the privilege of being associated for many decades in different
capacities with the development and growth of India-China ties.
Excellencies,
Ladies & Gentlemen,
14. The
possibilities for closer cooperation are limitless. Realising the full
potential of our relationship is a shared responsibility. Our Governments have
a primary role, but the efforts of civil society, academia, think tanks,
cultural icons and artists are equally important. They are the story-tellers
and interpreters of our great relationship- the living soul - that sustains,
enriches and strengthens it. To the distinguished leaders in the fields of art
and culture who are here today, I would like to say - it is you
who can transform our ties, it is you who can make it possible
to minimize disharmony , it is you who will increase the synergy between
India and China. May your tribe flourish and grow.
15. To
sum up, I would like to quote Prof Ji Xianlin - on whom I had the pleasure of
personally conferring one of India's highest civilian awards, the Padma
Bhushan: "China and India have stood simultaneously on the Asian
continent. Their neighbourliness is created by heaven and constructed by
earth".
With these words,
I thank you.
***************
Possibilities for closer cooperation between India
and China are limitless, says President
The President of India, Shri
Pranab Mukherjee addressed eminent cultural and academic personalities in
Beijing today (May 25, 2016). The event was co-hosted by Embassy of India and
Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.
Speaking on the occasion, the President said the possibilities for closer cooperation between India and China are limitless. Realizing the full potential of our relationship is a shared responsibility. Our Governments have a primary role, but the efforts of civil society, academia, think tanks, cultural icons and artists are equally important. They are the story-tellers and interpreters of our great relationship- the living soul - that sustains, enriches and strengthens it. He urged the distinguished leaders in the fields of art and culture to transform India-China ties. He said it is they who can make it possible to minimize discord and disharmony. It is they who will increase the synergy between India and China.
The President said he was among those who firmly believed that ours is a defining partnership of the 21st century. The thriving academic and cultural exchanges that had defined our ancient contacts will continue to be a foundational component of our partnership.
Speaking on the occasion, the President said the possibilities for closer cooperation between India and China are limitless. Realizing the full potential of our relationship is a shared responsibility. Our Governments have a primary role, but the efforts of civil society, academia, think tanks, cultural icons and artists are equally important. They are the story-tellers and interpreters of our great relationship- the living soul - that sustains, enriches and strengthens it. He urged the distinguished leaders in the fields of art and culture to transform India-China ties. He said it is they who can make it possible to minimize discord and disharmony. It is they who will increase the synergy between India and China.
The President said he was among those who firmly believed that ours is a defining partnership of the 21st century. The thriving academic and cultural exchanges that had defined our ancient contacts will continue to be a foundational component of our partnership.
*********
Be partners in India's growth story, tells
President to Chinese investors
The President of India, Shri
Pranab Mukherjee addressed the India-China Business Forum event at Guangzhou
today (May 25, 2016).
Speaking on the occasion, the President said India believes that there is great potential for economic and commercial cooperation among our two nations, which face similar opportunities and challenges. The stability of our relationship in recent years provides an enabling basis for utilizing these opportunities and coming together. To realize the full potential of our economic partnership, it is important to bridge the information gap between our business communities. India is committed to providing a conducive environment for more investments from China. We stand ready to facilitate many more collaborations between the industry and businesses of our two countries across different sectors. India invites investors from China to be partners in India's growth story.
The President said India is a young nation. Our primary goal is to build a modern economy that puts a premium on sustainable development. We are steadily moving towards this objective and a profound socio-economic transformation is taking place in our country. China's economic achievements are a source of inspiration for us. We believe that stepping up our two way trade and investment flows will be of mutual benefit to both our nations. We welcome Chinese investments and entrepreneurs to participate in ‘Make in India’ and other flagship initiatives of Government of India. India will facilitate efforts of Chinese investors to make their investments in India profitable. We must take advantage of the opportunities that abound in the growth of both our economies.
Speaking on the occasion, the President said India believes that there is great potential for economic and commercial cooperation among our two nations, which face similar opportunities and challenges. The stability of our relationship in recent years provides an enabling basis for utilizing these opportunities and coming together. To realize the full potential of our economic partnership, it is important to bridge the information gap between our business communities. India is committed to providing a conducive environment for more investments from China. We stand ready to facilitate many more collaborations between the industry and businesses of our two countries across different sectors. India invites investors from China to be partners in India's growth story.
The President said India is a young nation. Our primary goal is to build a modern economy that puts a premium on sustainable development. We are steadily moving towards this objective and a profound socio-economic transformation is taking place in our country. China's economic achievements are a source of inspiration for us. We believe that stepping up our two way trade and investment flows will be of mutual benefit to both our nations. We welcome Chinese investments and entrepreneurs to participate in ‘Make in India’ and other flagship initiatives of Government of India. India will facilitate efforts of Chinese investors to make their investments in India profitable. We must take advantage of the opportunities that abound in the growth of both our economies.
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