(February 27, 2012, New Delhi)

Respected Ms Luo Mei, Secretary of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China,

Leader of the 500-member Chinese youth delegation to India

Respected Mr. Rakesh Mohan,

Respected Ms. Sarada Ali Khan,

Joint Secretary of Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India

Young friends,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good afternoon,

We are very happy today to welcome the Chinese youth delegation to India headed by honorable Ms Luo Mei, Secretary of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China at the beginning of the Chinese lunar new year "Year of Dragon". First of all, let me extend our warm welcome on behalf of my colleagues in the embassy to all of you. I would also like to express my thanks to the friends in the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports,government of Indian for their efforts that make this visit come true.

Today, China-India relations are developing in all round manner characterized by growing cooperation and coordination in all the fields. Youth exchanges are an important part of our bilateral relationship, of which the two governments attach high importance. Since 2005, the exchange visits of 100-member youth delegations between India and China has been going on regularly. In December 2010, the Agreement reached by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi that 500-member youth delegation will be sent to each other's country. To implement the agreement, 500-member Indian youth delegation led by Hon'ble Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Ajay Maken, successfully visited China in last September as part of the "Year of China-India Exchange". During the visit, the delegation participated in a cultural performance "Ancient Civilizations, Glorious Youth" at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on September 22nd. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, on this occasion, delivered a speech on the important role that the youth of the two nations have to play to drive our bilateral relations forward. Premier Wen also said that the future of China-India bilateral ties is in the hands of youth and urged both Chinese and Indian youth to "walk hand in hand and shoulder to shoulder". As a return visit, the Chinese youth delegation comes now, and was received by Hon'ble President Pratibha Patil this morning. Tomorrow the delegation will go to different cities and regions in India. I sincerely hope all the delegates will take this opportunity to see more and learn more from the Indian partners. It is my belief that all these visits will greatly enhance the mutual trust and good will among the youth and people of the two countries, either in the past or in the future. Youth is the future of a nation. The exchanges and interactions between the young generations will surely generate invaluable friendship which will serve as a solid foundation for the future development of a stronger and fruitful relationship between our two countries.

Dear friends,

China and India are two great nations with ancient civilizations linked by mountains and rivers. Our friendly exchanges and amity can be traced back more than 2000 years ago. Two countries are mutually influenced and mutually inspired, which greatly enriched our respective civilization. Today as the "good-will ambassadors", the youth delegates surely will continue this link and pass the friendship to the future. I believe you are quite excited about this Indian trip. You will visit Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata and Rajastan cities, each of these has its own history, culture, economic and ethnic characteristics, through which you will see an "Incredible India", a fast-developing and friendly India. Seeing is believing. We hope through your own eyes and your interaction with youths and people from every fields in India, you can have a better understanding of India and bring back the warmth and hospitality of the Indian people to China.

Finally I sincerely wish the visit successful and fruitful, and wish all of you have a great time in India.

Thank you!