Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Thursday called on a 500-member visiting Indian youth delegation and Chinese youth to “seize the opportunity” and play a role in improving relations between the neighbours, in a speech that underscored the common developmental challenges faced by both countries.
Describing the relationship as one of “strategic significance”, Mr. Wen, whose meeting with the youth delegation was only confirmed at the last minute, said both countries’ development stages, as well as the bilateral relationship, were at a “critical juncture.”
“It is my hope that all of you will play a role in promoting friendly relations between India and China,” he told the group of 500 young Indians, who are on a ten-day visit to China, at a meeting in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People.
“I believe the youth of the two countries, with vision and ambition, will have profound understanding of the strategic significance of China-India relations, and develop an even firmer conviction to have peace and win-win cooperation.”
Breaking with the protocol for official events at the Great Hall, which are usually tightly choreographed by Chinese authorities, Mr. Wen mingled with the young Indians, at one stage even donning, for a few minutes, a traditional cap given to him by a student from Rajasthan, Indian officials present at the meeting said.
The visiting delegation, led by Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Ajay Maken, is here in China under an initiative to mark 2011 as the year for India-China youth exchanges.
Mr. Wen’s presence at the meeting was only confirmed by Indian officials on Thursday morning, although Chinese officials said Wednesday the Premier would address the students.
The Premier’s attendance, sources said, indicated a keenness on the part of the Chinese side to attach greater importance to initiating and expanding exchanges with India, particularly as the visit of this delegation followed an invitation extended personally by Mr. Wen when he visited New Delhi in December.
His presence on Thursday would also send a positive message on bilateral ties against the backdrop of recent reports of strains particularly over Indian exploration projects with Vietnam in the disputed South China Sea. In recent days, both Indian and Chinese officials have played down the reported row, stressing that differences over already running projects were not new.
On Thursday morning, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying told Mr. Maken in a 70-minute meeting that China was keen on improving relations with India. Ms. Fu particularly stressed that developing countries needed to have better relations with each other.
Mr. Maken also extended an invitation for a 500-member Chinese delegation to visit India later this year. The Indian delegation, comprising students, artists and young politicians, will travel to Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, visiting companies and interacting with Chinese youth. Chinese officials said they were impressed by the composition of the delegation, which drew students and artists not only from major cities but also from rural areas.
Mr. Wen told them on Thursday afternoon that both countries shared common cultural traditions and faced similar developmental challenges. “China and India have similar national realities and experiences,” he said. “We have splendid civilisations that have both suffered trials and tribulations in history.”
He drew a parallel between the Chinese civilisation’s origins in the Yellow river and India’s links to the Ganges. “Thousands of years long intermingling of great rivers of history have an impact on human civilisation,” he said. He said Asia, and the world, would have better futures “if Chinese and Indian youth walk hand in hand and shoulder to shoulder.”
“The future of China-India ties is in the hands of the youth,” Mr. Wen said. “We need wisdom and courage [drawn] from our rich history and cultural heritage, to continue to make relations healthier and to work harder to make our countries better places to live.”
