People-to-people exchange: India, China hold talks

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Friday held extensive talks under a newly established framework to enhance cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two nations.

The two sides discussed ways to enhance cooperation in tourism, art, films, media, culture, yoga, sports, academic and youth exchanges.

On the other hand, in his written message, PM Modi expressed happiness over talks between the two sides under the ‘High Level Mechanism on Cultural and People-to-People Exchanges.

PM Modi also hoped that the new mechanism will help in further deepening cultural exchanges and engagement between people of the two countries. “Age old links have been reinforced with increased contacts & exchanges between our peoples in contemporary times,” he concluded.

Earlier in the day, the Chinese Foreign Minister arrived in India on a four-day visit primarily to attend the first meeting of the new mechanism. Notably, the mechanism was agreed to in the informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping in Wuhan in April.

In a tweet, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said that the new mechanism is aimed at building synergies in people-to-people ties.

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