Sushma Swaraj asks Indians, Chinese to learn each other's language
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today asked Indians and Chinese to learn each other's language as it will help them overcome communication barriers, resulting in further strengthening the relationship between the two nations. Swaraj, who is on a visit to Beijing, made the remarks during a program, titled "Contribution of Hindi in India-China Friendship", organized by the India Embassy.
"When two friends sit together, they want to talk their hearts out, share what they feel. For that, we need a language. I should be able to understand Chinese when you speak, and you should be able to understand Hindi when I talk," Swaraj said.
"If there is an interpreter sitting between two friends, he may be able to translate the words but not the feelings with which I say something. So, it is essential that we learn a language, and understand it," Swaraj said. This comes a day after it was announced that PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping would hold an informal summit from April 27-28.
Sushma said, "I want to say that the way India and China's relations are strengthening, trade is increasing, we are working together on international forums, it has become increasingly important that you learn Hindi and we learn Chinese." This is important so that when Indians visit China they don't face difficulty, and when Chinese visit India, you don't require an interpreter," she said.
During her meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi yesterday, Swaraj had told him that people are the biggest strength for any foreign minister and when people of two countries love each other, it only strengthens the governments.
During the programme, a Chinese student learning Hindi expressed her dream was to visit India, Swaraj instructed the Ambassador to make arrangements for the visit of such students. "I want to tell her, that your dream would come true right here, right now. I'm telling our Ambassador here to send a delegation of 25 Hindi students from here on India visit," Swaraj said.
"We will entertain you there and gift you Indian traditional clothes - Saree for girls and kurta pajama for boys. I entrust our Ambassador here with the responsibility of sending a delegation of students learning Hindi here," Swaraj said.
