Better interaction between people of India, China needed: Ansari

" The imperatives of the 21st century propel us towards a better understanding of each other’s objectives and more purposeful cooperation for mutual benefit. Greater interaction between the people of our two countries, in all fields, is a necessary condition for stronger overall bilateral relations," he said.

He said 'Panchsheel' ( the five principles of peaceful coexistence) has the power to act as a catalyst to help the neighbouring countries better coordinate their efforts.

He said: "We need a new paradigm for global action. Our destinies are intertwined. Our quest is, should be, for a framework in which opportunities and challenges for the betterment of our societies co-exist. In this endeavour, Panchsheel can act as a catalyst to help us better coordinate our efforts, enhance mutual understanding, share developmental experiences and tackle trans-national threats more effectively."

Ansari is on a five days official visit to People’s Republic of China from June 26 to June 30.

The Vice President said, "This is a very special occasion and I am happy to be here today to commemorate the 60thAnniversary of Panchsheel or Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence."

" I congratulate our gracious host, President Xi Jinping, for this initiative. On behalf of my delegation and on my own behalf, I convey our appreciation to the Government and the friendly people of the People’s Republic of China for their warm and generous hospitality since our arrival here," he said.

Ansari said pursuit of world peace is a fundamental tenet of India’s foreign policy.

"It draws inspiration from our ancient civilisational value of considering the world as one family. This shapes and guides our actions in international relations," he said.

The Vice-President said: "It was my privilege to have formally launched the “Year of India-China Friendly Exchanges” in New Delhi in February this year. I am confident that various programmes under the Year of Friendly Exchanges will help forge a closer and stronger relationship between India and China."

Speaking on the two neighbouring nations, he said: "India and China are ancient civilizations. We are neighbours. We are strategic partners. Historically, there has been much that has bound us together, not merely through the exchange of goods and commodities but through a flourishing interchange of ideas, values and philosophies."

Ansari said the relationship between India and Myanmar is rooted in the shared historical, ethnic, cultural and religious ties between the two countries.

"Geographical proximity has helped develop and sustain cordial relations and facilitated people-to-people contacts. A significant population of Indian origin resides in Myanmar. Our shared history and common interests paves the way for greater mutually beneficial cooperation," Ansari said.

"India, China and Myanmar are bound by age old linkages and geography. We may be at different stages of development but we can learn from each other’s national experiences. In our respective bilateral relations, our common interests far outweigh our differences. On the way forward, we have to build on our convergences and narrow down our differences. Panchsheel can help us exploit this potential for cooperation and come up with fresh, innovative initiatives to improve the lives of our people," the Vice-President said.

He said: "We gather here today to reaffirm the timeless relevance of Panchsheel in establishing a peaceful, stable, prosperous and secure world. As the co-originators of Panchsheel, it is our duty to revitalize our friendly relations and to promote cooperation as the only way forward towards the realisation of our common goals of progress and prosperity for our peoples."