India, China to mark 70th anniv of diplomatic ties

India will send a “mid-level tri-service delegation of the Indian armed forces” to China, with naval ships too set to dock at Chinese ports. The two nations will also host a series of cultural exchanges relating to Buddhism and the visit of ancient Chinese Buddhist traveller Hiuen Tsang (known as Xuanzang in China). On Friday, a total of 70 measures to be taken jointly by the two Asian giants were announced to celebrate the 70th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. These will be undertaken in 202021.

Reiterating what was announced at the end of the two-day informal summit last month between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Mamallapuram near Chennai, the MEA also said the two countries would engage “in cooperative projects in studying

◗ The two sides will mark the 10th anniv of the completion of an Indian-style Buddha Hall in the White Horse Temple in Luoyang

ancient maritime links between India and China through establishment of sister-state relations between Tamil Nadu and Fujian Province and exploring the possibility of establishing an academy to study links between

◗ A delegation of Chinese Buddhist will visit India and hold prayer activities in Xuanzang Memorial Hall in Nalanda

Tamil Nadu and Fujian Province”.

“The Indian side will send its naval ships to visit China. A mid-level tri-service delegation of the Indian armed forces will visit China,” the MEA announced on Friday.

“The two sides will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the completion of an Indian-style Buddha Hall in the White Horse Temple in Luoyang. A Chinese Buddhist delegation will visit India and hold prayer activities in Xuanzang Memorial Hall in Nalanda. The Chinese side will invite an Indian Buddhist delegation to attend Celebrations for Bathing — the Buddha Festival in China — and jointly pray for world peace and friendship between our two peoples,” the MEA said.