Xi Jinping Meets with Representatives of Friendly Personages and Groups of India and Confers the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence Friendship Award
2014-09-19 09:17

On September 19, 2014, President Xi Jinping met in New Delhi with representatives of friendly personages and groups of India and conferred the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence Friendship Award in recognition of their long-term commitment to the cause of China-India friendship.

These friendly personages and groups are doctors of the Indian aid medical team in China, family representatives of Dwarkanath Kotnis who is an internationalist fighter, the Dr. Kotnis Memorial Committee, the Institute of Chinese Language and Culture (Cheena Bhavana) of the Visva-Bharati University, the India-China Friendship Association (ICFA), Dr. Jyoti Mohapatra, Secretary General of the Friends of China Society, and Dr. Mohan Reddy, Secretary General of the Andra Pradesh Chapter of the ICFA. Xi Jinping shook hands with them and extended sincere greetings. Xi Jinping spoke highly of the important contributions they have long made to China-India friendship and paid tribute through them to people from all walks of life in India who are committed to China-India friendship.

Xi Jinping recalled the moving deeds of Kotnis, Rabindranath Tagore and other Indian personages friendly to China with the participants, emphasizing that their persistent pursuit and selfless dedication to the cause of China-India friendship are admirable. Xi Jinping pointed out that China and India are two ancient civilizations with the history of thousands of years' friendly exchanges, two important neighbors working together to achieve national independence, two major developing countries jointly initiating the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and two great nations devoting to achieving the goal of enriching country and people. To carry forward China-India friendship is a great and lofty cause which works in the contemporary era and benefits future generations.

Xi Jinping stressed that the purpose of my visit this time is to carry forward China-India friendship and promote bilateral cooperation. I have indicated to the leaders and people of all circles in India that the Chinese people are willing to be always friendly with the Indian people and become partners for joint development, supporting each other and walking hand in hand on the road to achieve national rejuvenation. I believe this is also the wish of the Indian government and people.

Avijit Banerjee, President of the Institute of Chinese Language and Culture under the Visva-Bharati University, spoke on behalf of the winners. He introduced the situation on Tagore's founding of the Institute of Chinese Language and Culture in those years and the institute's long-term engagement in promoting India-China friendly exchanges. He appreciated President Xi Jinping for conferring them the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence Friendship Award and expressed that they stand ready to continue to make contributions to promoting India-China friendship.

Kotnis's third younger sister Manorama Kotnis is 93 years old and she, in her wheelchair, came from Mumbai on a special trip to attend this event. She expressed her gratitude to President Xi Jinping for specially taking time from his busy visiting schedule to meet with them and she expressed that they are deeply moved by the Chinese government and people for not forgetting Kotnis and his family members. Kotnis's family will continuously carry forward the Kotnis Spirit and endeavor to make further contributions to the cause of India-China friendship.

Xi Jinping awarded the above-mentioned friendly personages and groups with the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence Friendship Award and congratulated them on being the first award winners. Xi Jinping pointed out that the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence was the fruit of wisdom jointly left by the older generations of leaders from China, India and Myanmar. The Principles have become significant norms governing international relations and have played an important role in facilitating the establishment of a just and rational international order. The reason why the Chinese side sets up the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence Friendship Award lies in inheriting and carrying forward the Five Principles, so as to promote the establishment of a new model of international relations featuring equality and mutual trust, inclusiveness and mutual learning and win-win cooperation. You have set a good example of carrying on the spirit of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. I hope that more and more men of insight from the two countries will actively take part in the cause of China-India friendship so that the concept of China-India friendship will be deeply rooted in the two peoples' hearts and yield abundant fruits. I believe that through our unremitting endeavor over generations, China and India will keep this friendship from generation to generation and together, realize the dream of great rejuvenation of the two nations.

Wang Huning, Li Zhanshu and Yang Jiechi attended the above events.

Suggest to a Friend
  Print