New Delhi, Nov.4 (ANI): The Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Professor P.J. Kurien on Monday reiterated that India attaches the highest priority to its relations with China and is committed to further developing friendly and cooperative relations with this important neighbour.
Professor Kurien, who was called on by a seven member Chinese Parliamentary Delegation, led by Wang Zhengwei, Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and the Minister for State Ethnic Affairs Commission, China at the Parliament House here, said that the relation between India and China is based on a high degree of trust and understanding with a strong convergence of common interests.
Quoting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Professor Kurien observed that there is enough space in the world for both India and China to meet their development aspirations and the Chinese and Indian dreams for becoming strong, developed and prosperous nations are inter-connected and mutually compatible.
Observing that India attaches great importance to the Parliamentary exchanges with China, the Deputy Chairman called for enhancing Parliamentary cooperation between the two countries.
He said the contacts between the two Parliaments reflect the aspiration of the people and the political parties to strengthen India-China relations.
"The Parliaments of the two countries also have sound cooperation at the international fora such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union," he added.
Since the Prime Ministers of India and China have already declared the year 2014 as the 'Year of Friendly Exchanges' to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the enunciation of 'Panchsheel'- the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, Professor Kurien suggested that both sides should work closely and identify the activities that the two countries can focus upon together in 2014.
"The decision to publish an Encyclopedia of India-China Cultural Contacts by the middle of next year, could be a highlight in this regard, as it could be a seminal contribution to the literature on the subject of cultural contacts between our countries over the ages," he said.
Prof. Kurien also called for allowing more Indian films to be released in Chinese theatres.
"Because of their unique capacity to give a direct feel of India to the Chinese viewers and vice versa, the films of our respective countries can support and substantiate all the initiatives in the direction of people-to-people exchanges," he added.
Observing that tourism is another important tool for promoting greater understanding between peoples, he called for introducing more flights between cities in India and China.
Professor Kurien also called for more effective engagements between the youth, academics, and other sections of the civil society to engage with each other and to increase the number of scholarships and for greater interaction between academic institutions, think tanks, policymakers and teachers of the two countries. (ANI)
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