India and China have agreed on six key points to improve their relationship, including Restarting the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and allowing Indian pilgrims to visit Tibet
Our Bureau
New Delhi
India and China are making significant strides in their bilateral relations, with constructive engagements taking place at various levels. Speaking at the weekly media briefing on Friday, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, said that the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan marked a crucial turning point, followed by productive discussions between Indian Foreign Secretary and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister.
“Since we had a meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Chinese President Xi in Kazan. Since then, we have had constructive engagement at the levels of EAM, NSA and the Foreign Secretary also travelled to China in January, where he met his counterpart…Conversations and dialogues have been going on and they have been moving forward in the right direction…Several in principal approvals and understanding have been reached and hopefully, they will go forward in the days ahead,” said Jaiswal.
Notably, both leaders met on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, on October 23, 2024. One major breakthrough is the agreement to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in 2025, a significant pilgrimage for Hindus. While details are still being worked out, this development is a positive step in normalizing relations between the two nations. “It has been agreed that the Kailash Mansarovar will start in 2025, but how the yatra will start, and other talks are still going on…,” said Jaiswal.
Additionally, India and China have agreed on six key points to improve their relationship, including Restarting the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and allowing Indian pilgrims to visit Tibet, China; Cooperating on trans-border rivers by sharing data and best practices for managing shared water resources.
The two countries also agreed to resume Nathula border trade by re-establishing trade relations between the two nations and promoting cross-border exchanges by encouraging people-to-people ties through cultural, educational, and tourism initiatives.
They also agreed to strengthen border management by enhancing cooperation and communication to maintain peace and stability along the border and advancing bilateral relations by fostering a stable, predictable, and amicable relationship between India and China.
Meanwhile, Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Road Transport & Highways emphasized the nation’s commitment to reducing logistics costs from the current 14-16 per cent to single digits, positioning India to compete effectively with global economic powerhouses like China and the US, at 32nd Convergence India & 10th Smart Cities India Expo.
This year’s expo features advancements in 5G & 6G, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data, IoT, Cybersecurity, Augmented & Virtual Reality (AR/VR), Embedded Tech, Fintech, Urban Mobility, and Smart City Solutions.
Attendees will also have access to the latest developments in Digital Gaming, Mobile Devices & Accessories, OTT Platforms, Security & Surveillance, E-commerce, Mobile Apps, Drone Technology, and more.
A key highlight is the inaugural AI Bharat Expo, which explores AI’s role in industrial and retail applications. Another major attraction is the Startup Hub, featuring over 250 startups showcasing cutting-edge solutions in ICT and Smart City technologies.
Indian Himalayan Council holds inaugural general assembly
The First General Assembly of the Indian Himalayan Council of Nalanda Buddhist Tradition (IHCNBT) was successfully organized at the India International Center (IIC). The assembly brought together 120 Buddhist delegates from various Himalayan states across India.
This historic gathering was attended by prominent personalities, including Lochen Tulku Rinpoche, the President of IHCNBT; Maling Gombu, the General Secretary; Sonam Wangchuk, a founding member of IHCNBT and Rajiv Kumar, Director of the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), along with other distinguished dignitaries.
In his keynote address, Lochen Tulku Rinpoche stated, “We have strong feelings to preserve local languages. We have decided to organize Himalayan region conference. His Holiness Dalai Lama advised not only to protect language but also monasteries and transform institutions into learning centers. We must be Buddhists of the 21st century. One must have good knowledge of Buddhism. Everyone should be given the opportunity to learn in this center. We were granted permission from the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) to recognize Bhoti language.”
He further highlighted the reincarnation of Dalai Lama and said, “It is very clear that we, Indian Himalayan Buddhists, will accept whatever His Holiness decides about his reincarnation. If he says he will be born in India, then we shall be the happiest people. It is totally up to the Dalai Lama, and it is purely non-political.”
Maling Gombu, General Secretary of IHCNBT emphasized on Dalai Lama’s book, Voice for Voiceless and stated, “This book is about the Tibetan cause and how they have been lost to the Chinese. There have been many human rights violations against the Buddhist culture and languages. But the people of Tibet have stood against the violation of human rights.”
