Dear teachers and students,
Ladies and gentlemen, friends,
Good morning！Namaste！
I am very happy to come to Jawaharlal Nehru University(JNU) and join you at the "Chinese Spring Festival Celebration" organized by the Center for Chinese and South-East Asian Studies(CCSEAS). Not long ago, I spent the traditional Chinese Lunar New Year with my family in China, and last week I celebrated the joyful and colorful Holi festival with my Indian friends. Therefore, the spring of 2025 is very memorable for me. I would like to take this opportunity to extend my sincerest New Year wishes to all of you here and all the teachers and students of JNU, wishing you all a happy and prosperous New Year.
The dialogue between the two great civilizations of China and India spans more than 2,000 years. Ancient Indian Buddhism spread to China, profoundly influencing Chinese philosophy, literature, art, architecture, etc. Chinese Buddhist temples bear the features of Indian culture from layout to decoration in many details. At the same time, Chinese papermaking and silk fabrics were introduced to India through the Silk Road, promoting India's economic development and social progress. These achievements of exchanges have long been integrated into the spiritual world of the two peoples and have become precious treasures of human civilization. Although China and India are separated by mountains and rivers, the enthusiasm of the two peoples for friendly exchanges has never diminished, and the bond of cultural exchange has become tighter and tighter over the years.
In the era of globalization, the role of language as a bridge for dialogue among civilizations has become increasingly prominent. Chinese is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. Mastering Chinese not only means opening a window to understand China, but also means seizing development opportunities. Learning Chinese can not only appreciate the charm of traditional Chinese culture, such as the Confucian idea of "benevolence" and the Taoist idea of "nature", but also enjoy the modern aesthetics of the new animation named "Nezha 2" (The demon child churns the sea) in its original flavor. And learning Chinese can help people understand China's innovative breakthroughs in the fields of artificial intelligence and high-speed railway technology, feeling the charm of modern China. We are pleased to see that more than 30 universities in India have offered Chinese courses in different forms. The Center for Chinese and South-East Asian Studies(CCSEAS) of JNU has cultivated a large number of cultural envoys in 50 years, becoming an important cradle of cultural exchanges between China and India.
In recent years, the youth of China and India have maintained friendly exchanges. In China, many young Indian students study diligently, actively integrate into the local society and experience Chinese culture. Last year I held an event for more than 60 young Indians who received scholarships from the Chinese government, many of whom were students from JNU. In India, many Chinese students are learning various beautiful languages and cultures, and there are more and more Indian students like all of you who love Chinese. It is hoped that you will continue to be the envoys of China-India friendly exchanges and pass on the insights of learning Chinese culture to more Indian friends. At the same time, we also hope you can introduce the splendor of Indian culture to more Chinese young people, so that China-India friendship will take root and grow in the hearts of young people of the two countries.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and India, and under the guide of the leaders of our two countries, the current China-India relationship stands at a new historical starting point. As the two major emerging economies in Asia with a population of 2.8 billion, mutual understanding and mutual achievement between China and India is the only right choice. China and India are both members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), BRICS, G20 and other important international organizations. As the rotating chair of the SCO, China will host the SCO Summit this year. With the theme of “Carrying forward the ‘Shanghai Spirit’: the SCO in Action”, China will organize more than 100 meetings and activities to deepen practical cooperation in various fields. Since joining the SCO in 2017, India has made significant contributions to its development. We welcome all of you and more Indian friends to actively participate in the activities under the SCO framework, take practical actions to promote the “SCO” people-to-people friendship, and jointly write a new chapter of civilizational dialogue, exchange and cooperation.
Dear teachers and students,friends，
Rabindranath Tagore said, “When spring arrives, the soul awakens”. Spring brings vitality and hope. Let us walk hand in hand in the name of spring, build a bridge of understanding with the Chinese language, and let the light of mutual understanding of civilizations shine in the future. I believe that with our joint efforts, the two ancient civilizations of China and India will blossom even more brilliantly!
Finally, I wish you all great progress in your studies! Wish the performance of "Spring Festival Celebration" a great success!
Thank you!
