Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c17.s1.175

v2.c17.s1.175

• June 22–27, at the invitation of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee paid an official friendly visit to China. During the visit, both sides exchanged ideas regarding bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common concern. Both sides signed “2003 - 2005 Implementation Plan of Cultural Cooperation Agreement of the Governments of India and China”, “Principles of India- China Relations and the Declaration of Comprehensive Cooperation”, including nine memorandums of understanding like “MOU on Mutually Establishing Cultural Centre” etc. The contents involved various fields like judiciary, education, culture, science and technology, energy, quarantine, simplifying visa procedures and expanding border trade etc. Both sides agreed to jointly build an Indian style Buddhist Hall at the White Horse Temple in Luoyang.