Vikram Doraiswami, Indian Ambassador to China, addressing students at Beijing Foreign Studies University, asserted that mutual learning of languages and exchange of ideas over two millennia is a defining aspect of the relationship between India and China.
Doraiswami, who took charge as India's envoy to China last month, delivered a lecture on Friday and held a conversation with students and faculty members.
BFSU, a premier institution for foreign languages in China, offers courses in 102 languages, including Tamil, Hindi, Bengali, Sanskrit and Urdu.
It recently added Punjabi to its list of courses.
The languages are taught primarily to Chinese students as well as diplomats and officials. Many of its students go on to work with Chinese foreign-language media organisations, including state radio and television services catering to overseas audiences.
During his lecture, Doraiswami, a fluent Mandarin speaker, highlighted how the study of languages, societies and a dialogue of ideas had been a defining feature of India-China engagement for more than two millennia.
"Citing examples from the Mauryan period to the modern era, he [Doraiswami] noted how exchanges between the world's two oldest continuous civilisations enriched both societies through the sharing of knowledge, philosophy, artistic traditions, technologies, and innovation," according to a post on X by the Indian Embassy in Beijing.
"He emphasised that such interactions historically generated mutual benefit and remained more important than ever as both countries undergo profound economic, technological and social transformation," it said.
It added, "The lecture also explored the remarkable changes taking place in India today and the need for deeper knowledge, academic engagement, and people-to-people exchanges to better understand each other's contemporary realities."
It was followed by an interactive session during which Doraiswami answered questions from students.
During his visit, Doraiswami was briefed on the activities of the university by BFSU President Jia Wenjian.
With inputs from PTI
