"China-India friendship," Chinese premier tells teenagers in India with calligraphy

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (C) presents his handwriting of "Sino-Indian Friendship" to teachers and students during his visit to Tagore International School in New Delhi, India, Dec. 15, 2010. Wen arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday for an official visit to India. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)
Visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao taught students in New Delhi on Wednesday with traditional Chinese calligraphy to send a message of China-India friendship.

Dipping a writing brush in black ink, Wen wrote the Chinese characters for "China-India friendship" on a piece of white paper, and then wrote the same characters again on a board.

Wen had an hour-long interaction with some 50 teenagers and teachers in the Tagore International School here Wednesday afternoon. Topics ranged from the Chinese language and calligraphy to yoga and Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore.

Greeted by the students as "Grandpa Wen," the premier said he had been deeply touched by the gracious hospitality of Indian people since he arrived in New Delhi earlier Wednesday.

Named after Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, the school was founded in 1964 with the aim of creating a cool atmosphere where children develop their personality to the fullest extent.

The school has an exchange program with the Jinyuan Senior High School in Shanghai, China, which includes video-conferenced yoga lessons for Chinese students and calligraphy lessons for their Indian fellows.

Calling language an important tool for heart-to-heart communication and a bridge for friendship, Premier Wen said he was very glad to learn that India plans to teach Chinese language in secondary schools as from next year.

Wen's visit to the school comes at a time when Indian people's interest in Chinese language is growing as the two emerging economies seek closer ties. The Indian Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced plans to introduce Chinese as a foreign language in its 11,000 affiliated schools next year.

Source:Xinhua


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