The Second Meeting of China-India High Level Mechanism on Cultural and People-to-People Exchanges Held in Beijing Wang Yi and Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs of India, Co-chair the Meeting
2019-08-12 23:40

On August 12, 2019, Wang Yi, State Councilor and Foreign Minister, and Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs of India, co-chaired the second Meeting of China-India High Level Mechanism on Cultural and People-to-People Exchanges in Beijing.

At the meeting, principals from both countries' authorities of education, culture and cultural relics protection, tourism, media, youth, sports, locality, film and television, think tank and traditional medicine briefed on the new progress the two countries have made in these areas since the first meeting, and the new plans for exchanges and cooperation for the next stage.

Wang Yi expressed, the China-India high level mechanism on cultural and people-to-people exchanges was set up under the joint initiative of President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It has built a new and important platform for promoting the comprehensive development of China-India relations. Since the first meeting, bilateral people-to-people and cultural exchanges have seen new progress and a fresh boom in the ten major pillar areas. It is in line with the original purposes of the leaders of both countries when they decided to establish the mechanism, and also meets the expectations of the two peoples for the two ancient civilizations to join hands for new splendour.

Wang Yi said, to strengthen bilateral people-to-people and cultural exchanges, it requires to gather consensus, adopt a result-oriented approach, pass on the traditional friendship to the common people and translate the consensus of the leaders of the two countries into actions. It requires to adhere to inclusiveness, try to resolve differences through building common ground, and oppose "Clash of Civilizations", so as to write the new chapter of mutual respect and harmonious coexistence between the two major civilizations together. It requires to make thoughtful arrangements, strive for high-quality programs, and take the opportunity of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of China-India diplomatic relationship next year to host more colorful people-to-people and cultural events. It requires to shift our focus to the vast number of the two peoples and take a long-term perspective. It is crucial to constantly enrich the new framework of people-to-people and cultural exchanges, with multiple players from both the government and non-government sectors, and oriented towards all members of society, and encourage more young people to devote themselves to our cause of friendship. It also requires to develop new ways of thinking, deeply tap into potential, make unremitting and consistent efforts, push bilateral people-to-people and cultural exchanges for new and constant progress and consolidate the popular and social foundation for the healthy development of China-India relations.

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar expressed, friendship between the two peoples across the Himalayas has lasted for thousands of years. India and China's efforts in establishing the high level mechanism on cultural and people-to-people exchanges are the tangible actions for implementing the consensus of the leaders of both countries and showcase our two people's willingness to enhance mutual understanding. The Indian side is pleased to see that the people-to-people and cultural exchanges programs decided in the first meeting of the mechanism last year have been smoothly carried out and have gathered more public support for the development of bilateral relations. The Indian side is willing to work with the Chinese side to promote bilateral people-to-people and cultural exchanges for even greater development.

After the meeting, Wang Yi and Subrahmanyam Jaishankar jointly signed the action plan for exchanges and cooperation between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of China and India in 2020, and witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents in people-to-people and cultural fields including culture, sports, traditional medicine and museums.

On the same day, Wang Yi and Subrahmanyam Jaishankar also attended the closing ceremony of the fourth China-India High Level Media Forum and jointly unveiled the China-India Film Week.

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