On August 28th, Chinese Ambassador to India H.E. Sun Weidong visited Benagluru, Karnataka. During his visit, Ambassador Sun inaugurated the Photo Exhibition on China hosted by the India-China Friendship Association, Karnataka, and received an interview from the Indian media. Mr. Kong Xianhua, the Chinese Consul General in Mumbai, Mr. K. Srinivas Gowda, President of the ICFA, Karnataka, and Mr. V. Bhaskaran, Secretary General of the ICFA, Karnataka attended the event.
Ambassador Sun joined the Indian friends in visiting the photo exhibition, shared stories behind each vivid photos with them. Ambassador Sun also made an introduction about the glorious journey of the Chinese nation that had endured so much for so long, from standing up, growing rich to becoming strong under the Communist Party of China’s strong leadership over the past century.
The event was warm and friendly. Guests spoke highly of the splendorous achievements made by the Chinese people under the leadership of the CPC, and expected that India and China to enhance cooperation in various fields.
After the event, Ambassador Sun received an interview by Indian media attending the exhibition, including The Times of India, The Hindu, Deccan Herald, Asian News International, and Indian Today.
Ambassador Sun said that this photo exhibition helps Indian friends to better understand modern history of China. The CPC united and led the Chinese people, fought bravely without fear of sacrifice against oppression and foreign aggression. After the tenacious fight, the People’s Republic of China was founded in 1949, and we achieved national independence and the liberation of the people. In 1978, the CPC led Chinese people opened a new period of China’s reform and opening-up, and we moved towards building a moderately prosperous society. In 2012, the 18th CPC National Congress was held successfully. Under the leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, socialism with Chinese characteristics entered a new era, and we embarked on the new historic journey of China’s national rejuvenation. We are striving toward the goal of building a great modern socialist country in all respects. We are fully confident that we can achieve this goal.
Regarding the China-India relations, Ambassador Sun emphasized that, today I came for friendship. Our friends are all over India. In the past two years, China-India relations encountered some difficulties. At present, with the joint efforts of both sides, the bilateral relations have overall shown a recovery momentum. This year, President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to H.E. Droupadi Murmu on her inauguration as President of the Republic of India. Both of our leaders attended the 14th BRICS Summit. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi paid a working visit to India. State Councilor Wang met with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar twice, and exchanged in-depth views on improving bilateral relations. China-India relations have regional and global influence. We should concentrate on doing our own business well, and find convergence of interest in development which is the most important task for us. We should uphold the concensus of being opportunities of development instead of threats and being cooperation partners rather than rivals.
Regarding the China-India boundary question, Ambassador Sun said that the Chinese side always believes that our common interests overwhelm differences. It is normal for neighboring countries to have differences, and it is important to properly handle them. The boundary question is left over by history. China always maintains that a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement should be reached by the two sides through consultation and negotiation. Pending a final resolution of the boundary question, the two sides should jointly maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas. Since the border incident in 2020, the two sides have maintained communication via diplomatic and military channels, and held a number of talks through the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on Border Affairs and Corps Commander Level Meetings. The current border situation is overall stable, and the two sides have disengaged in most points of the western sector. As a next step, we should push forward the process of resolving remaining issue, strive to switch to normalized management and control of the border situation, to ensure sustainable peace and tranquility in the border areas.
Regarding how should China and India cope with international challenges, Ambassador Sun said that the current international situation is undergoing profound and complex changes. Asian countries should work together to get the strength of solidarity, uphold fairness and justice, improve global governance, promote peace and stability and achieve common prosperity. The planet earth is the only homeland for us to live. President Xi Jinping advocates building a community with a shared future for mankind, proposes the Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative, and China is committed to push forward common development and security for all countries. As two major developing countries, China and India should advocate common prosperity and win-win cooperation, and oppose zero-sum game and small cliques targeting third parties. China is ready to work with all countries including India to jointly promote development and seek common security, which serves the fundamental interests of the people all over the world and also meets the trend of history.
