Beijing, Sept 21 (PTI) Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will interact with a 500-strong Indian youth delegation which is here as part of efforts to enhance people-to-people understanding and boost bilateral ties. Chinese Foreign Ministry officials here said that Premier Wen, who invited the youth delegation during his visit to India last December, would attend the interactive meeting and also address the delegation headed by Union Sports Minister Ajay Maken. Wen's meeting with Indian delegation was confirmed at the last minute, officials said. The Chinese government has designated the current year as the year of India-China Youth Exchange and it is the sixth Indian delegation visiting China under the programme. Wen's meeting with the delegation assumes significance in the backdrop of some strong statements by China asserting that any exploration activity by India in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims as its territorial waters, is infringement of its sovereignty. The interactive session with the Chinese leader will be followed by cultural performances. The delegation, which is on a 10-day tour, is one of the largest from India to visit China. Besides meeting Wen, the Indian delegation comprising young leaders from political parties, youth from academics, Panchayati Raj institutions, folk and cultural artists, will meet their Chinese counterparts and interact with them to enhance their understanding of China. About 500 members from All China Youth Federation, who are the hosts, would be attending tomorrow's event being organised at the Great Hall of the People, which also houses top Chinese legislature the National Peoples Congress (NPC). The first 100-member Indian youth delegation visited China from October 8 to 17 in 2006 followed by the return visit of a 100-member delegation from China from November 20 to 29, 2006. This event will be followed by the first ever two-day India-China Strategic Economic Dialogue from September 26, to be led by Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Zhang Ping, Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission. China holds such a dialogue with only United States. Also the two countries also had set up the India-China CEO Forum, which Beijing has it with Washington.
No comments:
Post a Comment