On Jan 31st , the eve of the Year of the Tiger, Chinese Consulate General in Mumbai, together with Confucius Institute and India-China Academy, held an online celebration for the coming new year. More than 200 guests attended the event, including Dr. Sudheendra Kulkarni, former consultant for Prime Miniter, Professor Vibha Surana, Dean of the Confucius Insititue and Mr.Nishith Tang, founder of the India-China Academy, India-China Friendship Association, families of Dr. Kotnis, friends from Chinese enterprises, local Chinese communities and Chinese students. Chinese women’s football team for the AFC Asian Cup also joined the celebration as special guests.
CG Tang Guocai first gave New Year wishes to all the Chinese and Indian friends. He said that the year of tiger is of very good omen and a significant start for both China and India. We shall fight together like brave tigers against the pandemic and any evil monsters on our roads ahead, to boost social recovery and economic development. As President Xi Jinping points out in his recent remark at the World Economic Forum, the world is undergoing major changes unseen in a century. As the changes of the times coincide with the global pandemic, we shall move forward by following the logic of historical progress, and develop by riding the tide of development of our times. We all know that some western countries are engaging in “small cirlces”, “new cold war” or disinformation against China, casting shadow over the international community. However, As the famous Chinese writer Lu Xun put it, insulting and threatening is never an honorable way of fight. The fact is that development holds the key. As parallel ancient civilizations, China and India shall take our own way, We must uphold true multilateralism, stick to openness while stand against hegemony and cold-war mentality.
Tang said that the year 2021 marked the Grand Centennial of the Communist Party of China. The key why the CPC can lead the world's most populous country to success lies in its people-centered approach. Over the years, China has created remarkable political, economic and social miracles, eliminated absolute poverty in historic steps, and made great strides toward the goal of common prosperity. In spite of difficulties, China-India exchanges came a long way. China is India's largest irreplaceable trading partner. In 2021, bilateral trade volume reached a record high of 125.6 billion US dollars. India's exports to China are surging by 60% and imports from China by 30%. China, nicknamed the "infrastructure-holic", is universally acknowledged as a constructive builder. Mumbai metro Line 3 and the Marine Drive tunnel project are great examples. Chinese and Indian engineers with China's most advanced TBM work side by side. The pandemic did not put down the people's enthusiasm for exchanges. We firmly believe , the pandemic will come to an end. China and India shall gain wisdom from history, deepen mutual understanding and trust, then join hands for development and national rejuvenation. Throughout the developing world, people want real builders instead of western banners and burners.
Tang said that the Beijing Winter Olympics would open in a couple of days. It attracts worldwide attention and is a beacon for the new year. Beijing is the world's first dual-Olympic city. From 2008 to 2022, Beijing and China have witnessed both historic development and traditional inheritance, with the artistic themes, from "you and me" to "we" and "together for a shared future", all illustrating best the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind. This concept put foward by China, which coincides with the philosophy of "harmony between man and nature" in Indian culture, has great significance and far-reaching influence towards the common pursuit of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom for mankind. The common right way we choose for our nations and the whole world is not easy. It calls for China plus India in building a bright and beautiful post-pandemic future.
Indian guests and local Chinese expressed congratulations and wishes to China on Beijing Winter Olympics and Chinese New Year. They highly acclaimed the remarkable achievements made by the CPC and Chinese people. Chinese and Indian civilizations have many common grounds, on the basis of which the two countries shall fully unleash the potential of cultural and educational cooperation, enhance exchanges and work together for further development.
Mr.Chen Yingbiao and Ms. Wang Shanshan, the manager and the captain of the Chinese Women’s Football Team made remarks respectively, expecting to contribute more to China-India cultural and sport exchanges. The new year greeting video made by Chinese Women’s Football Team pushed the atmosphere even higher. Local Chinese, students and teachers from Confucius Institute University of Mumbai and India-China Academy presented fascinating performance. Deputy Consul General Wang Yanhua and all the staff in the consulate attended the event.