Distinguished teachers, Dear students and friends, Good evening! Namaste! It is a great pleasure to be here to meet you all on the glorious occasion of the 60th anniversary of Tagore International School (East of Kailash). First of all, I would like to express my warmest and most sincere congratulations and best wishes to the school and all its staff and students! Tagore, the great Indian poet, is known for his profound thoughts, beautiful poetry and love for humanity. Over the past sixty years, the school named after him inherited Tagore's spirit, adhered to the concept of "sustainable development" and the belief that “I am Worthy”, and has made remarkable achievements in all aspects. Teachers and students both benefit from teaching and learning. Education is the cornerstone of national development and a bridge connecting different countries and people. As two neighboring countries with ancient civilizations, China and India both have a long history and splendid culture, and their exchanges and mutual understanding started from the ancient times. In history, the Chinese eminent monks Fa Hien and Xuan Zang went on pilgrimages to India for Buddhist scriptures, while Kumarajiva and Bodhidharma travelled east to China to disseminate Buddhism. This has become the most beautiful story widely circulated on the ancient Silk Road. Mr. Tagore first visited China 100 years ago, which lasted nearly 50 days. He was warmly welcomed by the Chinese cultural and educational communities wherever he went. After his visit to China, he invited Chinese scholar Tan Yunshan to co-found Cheena-Bhavana (the Department of Chinese Language and Culture) of Visva-Bharati University to promote Chinese education and spread Chinese culture. It has had a profound impact on promoting cultural exchanges between China and India and enhancing the friendship between the two peoples. The Indian medical team for China, consisting of Dr. Kotnis and Dr. Basuwa, made significant contributions to China's victory in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. Chinese scholar Xu Fancheng has lived in India for more than 30 years. He has systematically translated Indian classics such as "Bhagavad Gita" into Chinese language and enhanced cultural exchanges between the two countries. He is known as “Modern Xuan Zang”. I am happy to see that Tagore International School has actively participated in educational and cultural exchanges between China and India over the years and has achieved fruitful results. In 2014, Professor Peng Liyuan, wife of President Xi Jinping, visited Vasant Vihar campus of the school to observe Chinese teaching class and interact with teachers and students, leaving behind precious memories. In recent years, the school has actively participated in activities such as the “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Language Competition, “International Chinese Day” and “Tiangong Dialogue——SCO Students’ talk with Taikonauts of Shenzhou-15”. Last year three representatives of teachers and students of the school went to China to participate in a summer camp for young people from SCO member countries. In September this year, Principal Mallika Preman of Tagore International School (East of Kailash) visited China with a delegation and signed an inter-school friendship agreement with Ba Shu Middle School in Chongqing, China.Tagore International School (Vasant Vihar) and Shanghai Jinyuan Senior High School have continued friendly exchanges for nearly two decades and further promoted cooperation, becoming a “business card” for educational and cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and India. This reflects the potential and impact of educational cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between our two countries. Dear teachers, students and friends, China and India are both large developing countries and important emerging market economies, with a combined population of more than 2.8 billion, accounting for one third of the world's total. As the world is undergoing major changes not seen in a century, the realization of stable development and harmonious coexistence between China and India will provide a solid foundation for peace and prosperity in the world. Recently, President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kazan, Russia. They reached important common understandings on improving and developing China-India relations and set the course to steer bilateral relations back on the path of steady development. A new start in China-India relations is in line with the fundamental interests of the two peoples, the expectations of countries of the global South, and the right direction of history. Education is not only a ladder for personal growth, but also a bridge for deeper understanding and trust between countries. Chinese President Xi Jinping said, “China will strengthen educational exchanges with other countries, further open up education sector, actively support the development of educational causes in developing countries, and make joint efforts with other countries to usher in a better future for mankind.” China and India are the countries with the largest number of young people in the world, and the future and hope of China and India lie in the young people and in the development of education. The two countries have a broad space for exchanges and cooperation in the field of education. China has always attached great importance to educational and people-to-people exchanges with India, and is willing to work with the Indian side to explore more opportunities and modes of cooperation, strengthen interaction with schools and universities, work hand in hand to create more platforms for young students of the two countries, help more Indian young people to go to China for exchanges, and support Chinese young people to come to India to study. These efforts will promote the common progress of the educational causes of the two countries and infuse new vitality into the long-term development of the friendly relations between the two countries. We are also willing to provide necessary assistance to teachers, students, parents and friends to visit China and carry out economic and trade cooperation. It is hoped that Tagore International School will continue to play an active role in joining hands with other schools in India to actively carry out China-India educational exchanges and cooperation, and make greater contributions to the promotion of friendly exchanges between the people of the two countries. Dear teachers, students and friends, Over the past 60 years, Tagore International School has scored great achievements and cultivated thousands of talents in all walks of life. Chinese traditional culture takes 60 years as a cycle, which is an important moment to build on the past and look to the future. I wish Tagore International School a great success in its 60th Anniversary celebrations and in the musical drama performance by the teachers and students today! May the school flourish in the days to come and cultivate more and more talented people! May the flower of educational exchange and cooperation between the school and China become more colorful! May the students make more progress in their studies and grow up healthily! Thank you!
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