As a reciprocal exchange of people to people good faith generation between China and India, a youth delegation of 500 Chinese students from across the mainland will visit India on a nine-day tour commencing the 25th of February. The Indian embassy in Beijing which is currently processing their visas expects this to be the largest Chinese youth delegation to visit India. The idea of a youth exchange was conceptualized by Premier Wen Jiabao on his visit to India in 2010 to boost bilateral cultural ties, enhancing a better, first hand understanding of our two countries.
The idea to work on a grassroots level for increased youth exchanges, creating a better understand of each others cultures through language, education and travel in order to build trust is also the basic premise of Inchin Closer. For it is only when we build trust between our two nations will business, trade, and economies prosper.
The main thorn in Sino-Indian bilateral ties remains trust, in order for our economies to see domestic, bilateral and international growth and prosperity it will become vital that we understand each other better. While the market potential for indigenous companies to grow in each others economies is huge, neither Indian companies in China nor Chinese companies in India have been able to create much more than a ripple. In order to take full advantage of the true potential in each others nations, we need to build a solid foundation of trust, stemming from an understanding of each others cultures, which will only come with increased exchanges, language comprehension and positive, poignant media reports.
In September 2011, 500 Indian students – urban and rural youth, artisans, social service workers, engineers and young politicians led by Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Ajay Maken visited Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou on a ten-day good-will exchange.
The Chinese youth delegation, will be converging at New Delhi from where they will later split into four different groups and branch out to Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata and Rajastan. Like Premier Wen who interacted jovially with the Indian students in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, high level Indian diplomats and politicians are also expected to do the same.