People's Democracy

Wen Jiabao Confers China-India

Friendship Award on Sitaram Yechury

THE Chinese prime minister Wen Jiabao has presented the China-India Friendship award to Sitaram Yechury, Polit Bureau member and Head of the International department of the CPI(M) and MP at a function held in New Delhi on December 15. Sitaram Yechury was among the ten eminent personalities selected for this award for their efforts in promoting friendly ties between the two countries.

Sitaram Yechury, speaking on behalf of all the recipients of the award, welcomed and thanked premier Wen Jiabao. He recalled the strong historic and cultural relations shared between the two oldest civilisations on the earth dating from the visits of Huien Tsang and Fa Hien. He hoped that the two countries would be the prime contributors for the human civilisations' advancement in the 21^st century. He also hoped that the five principles of peaceful co-existence, the panchsheel, would become the basis for friendship and mutual respect between the two countries. He concluded his speech hoping that the present visit of premier Wen Jiabao would be fruitful and turn out to be a new milestone in the history of the relations between two countries.

Premier Wen Jiabao reiterated the role played by the Chinese travellers who had visited India in the ancient times and the important role they played in the spread of Buddhist ideas and religion. Remembering Mahatma Gandhi, he recalled the role of support exchanged by the peoples of these two countries during the course of their struggle for national independence. Here he also remembered the role played by Rabindranath Tagore and the literary exchanges between the two countries specially after his visit to China. He also immensely thanked the Indian people for sending the medical team led by Dr Kotnis, who stayed in China and treated the Chinese people in their struggle for national independence.

Premier Wen conveyed his heartfelt thanks to the award recipients for their efforts to promote peace and friendship between the two countries. He said that the Chinese people will always value friendship and their efforts for promoting the same between the two countries. He stated that in the changing global political and economic scenario, it is important and necessary for the two countries to work hand in hand and support each other. He concluded his speech stating that more and more people are necessary now to promote friendship between the two countries in these difficult times.

All the recipients of the award were given a plaque and a certificate appreciating their efforts towards the promotion of peace and friendship between the two countries.

(INN)