Dr. G. H. Fernandes
President, India China Friendship Association (ICFA)
Vice President, Organization for South Asian Regional Friendship and Cooperation with China (OSARFCC)
icfaindia1950@gmail.com
India and China are two great neighboring countries, containing nearly one third of humanity. In the present day, friendship between these two ancient civilizations is an imperative need for the welfare, peace and progress not only for their people, but also for the entire world.
India and China had shared their cultural traits since the beginning of human history. Ancient Indian literature, in Sanskrit and Pali talked about the Chinese people, likewise in Chinese literature grand historian Zhang Oian, has referred to "Shendu" which probably means Sindhu in Sanskrit. In 6th century BC, the birth of Confucius and Sakyamuni, opened a new period of exchanges between the two ancient civilizations. Emperor Ashoka's propagation of Buddhism in 256 BC has resulted in Buddhism reaching China and South Asia via pilgrims and scholars traveling on these historic silk routes.
In the modern day, Revolutionary Socialism in China is the socialist wonder of the world. The PRC is transforming and ploughing back their wealth for the welfare of the Chinese people and the world with its unique characteristic ideology. This ideology was born a 100 years ago as a Communist Party of China (CPC) popularly known as Chinese Communist Party (CCP), on 1st July 1921. The CCP was founded in 1921, mainly by CHEN DUXIU and LI DAZHAO, with the help of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the far Eastern Secretariat of the Communist International.
History & Cultural Relations
We have been friends since 2000 years. After founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, India on 1st April 1950 established Diplomatic Relations between our two newly formed nations, home to two great civilizations. In this background, India China Friendship Association (ICFA) was established by Pandit Sunderlal with the blessings of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and since then ICFA members are active all over India. The India China Friendship Association has always been the bridge between Indian and Chinese common folk, encouraging strong cultural and People - to - People Relations.
On the invitation of Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) we had yet another opportunity to visit the Communist Party of China, Shanghai office, with a 6 member delegation in June 2019.
Immortal Dr. Kotnis [Kē Dìhuá /柯棣华]
Friendly ties between India and China began even as both countries were on the cusp of self-rule. The selfless service rendered by Dr. Dwarkanath Shantaram Kotnis, a proud son of India, during Sino-Japanese war, to the wounded Chinese soldiers is an evergreen symbol of the human relationship between the people of India and China. Born in Solapur on 10th October, 1910, he graduated in medicine from Grant Medical College, Mumbai. In 1938, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, a man of determination and a leftist from the core of his heart was the President of the Indian National Congress (INC). Netaji, along with Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru took the historical decision to send a Medical Mission to China to support the efforts of Chinese Nationalists fighting Japanese aggression. Dr. Kotnis was the youngest member of the team of doctors. The aim of this team was to render medical services and help Chinese forces against the Imperial Japanese Army. The missionary zeal of Dr. Kotnis to serve the wounded soldiers at Bethune International Peace Hospital, Hebei, has made him immortal to the Chinese people.
In the past 5 decades, ICFA has always been proactive in bringing the two great nations closer culturally by organizing various Art and Culture programs across India, the very recent being the Advent celebration of the 70 years of Diplomatic relations between India and China held on 28th September 2019 in Mumbai.
Sister Cities
ICFA, and CPAFFC have played a leading role under the blessings of both Indian and Chinese Governments and respective City Councils, to forge sister city relations between many cities in our countries. ICFA hopes that this will enhance people-to-people exchanges and foster greater understanding. The sister cities formed under these efforts are Chennai-Chongqing, Aurangabad-Dunhuang, Delhi-Beijing, Bengaluru-Chengdu, Kolkata-Kunming have become sister cities for exchange of ideas and technology. With the help of ICFA, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) & Jinan Municipal Council of The Peoples Republic of China, entered into an agreement to develop a sister city relationship between the two cities. Mumbai being the economic capital of India, we are in a process to have sister city relation with Shanghai, the economic capital of China.
The Medical Help facilitated by The Consulate of PRC, Mumbai, in the common fight against COVID-19.
Recently, medical equipments were donated to Indian hospitals and citizens to fight against Covid-19 pandemic. Donated by the Shanghai Fosun Foundation these included Non-invasive Ventilators manufactured by BMC Medical Co. Ltd. Beijing and Oxygen Concentrators by Longfian Scitech Co. Ltd. Hebei, as well as KN95 masks. These were freely distributed to the needy at Sir JJ Hospital, Mumbai, Holy Family Hospital, Mumbai & Cardinal Gracias Hospital, Vasai, Dist. Palghar, in the state of Maharashtra.
We are Thankful to His Excellency Mr. Tang Guocai, The Consul General of China in Mumbai and The Red Cross Society Mumbai branch for their help in this noble cause.
On behalf of ICFA we express confidence that a new era of peace will blossom and light the world in the progress of humanity. We have much to gain by co-operating to improve the lives of our citizens. Together we must ensure that the historical civilizational and cultural ties are cemented by mutual respect, friendship, people-to-people interaction and business to usher in a brighter future and a peaceful multi-polar world. We stand for Peace, and Immortal Friendship.