Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c17.s1.192

v2.c17.s1.192

* January 13-15, at the invitation of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh paid an official friendly visit to China. During the visit, both sides reached a consensus on establishing China India Exchange Fund for expanding the exchanges in the field of humanities, continuing the exchange visit of 100 youth delegates between the two countries and jointly organising “India Festival” and “China Festival” in 2010. The governments of both countries also signed 10 cooperative documents like “A Shared Vision for the 21ˢᵗ Century Of the Republic of India and the People’s Republic of China” etc.
* August, India despatched sports delegation to Beijing to participate in the 29ᵗʰ Summer Olympic Games. A total of 57 sportspersons participated in 13 events. President and Chairperson of UPA Sonia Gandhi along with General Secretary of the Indian National Congress Rahul Gandhi, arrived in Beijing to participate in the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games and other related art and cultural activities. At the same time, the “2008 Olympic Games Cultural Festival” was jointly organised in New Delhi by the Chinese Embassy in India, Hotel Meridian Plaza, New Delhi and an Indian stamp web portal “Stamps Today”.
* November 18–27, at the invitation of Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Chinese Ministry of Culture sent the Tianjin Acrobatic Troupe of thirty members to perform in India. During the visit, the group gave four performances respectively in New Delhi and Kolkata, and held interactions with Indian Artists and local India China Friendship Association.