Developing Sino-Indian relations
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China.org.cn: So far, media reports on each other are not enough and the scope is very limited. People have misunderstandings about each other, and what they know about each other is outdated. What's the reason behind this phenomenon? And what are your suggestions to improve the situation?
Zeng: As direct exchange is not enough, mutual understanding in the media is very important. And the media should help both sides understand each other better, not vice versa. To achieve this, the media should take an objective and fair attitude while reporting on the other country instead of agitating a hostile feeling between the peoples. Important media from both sides like China.org.cn and China Development Gateway should do more to promote media exchanges. With unremitting efforts, the Sino-Indian friendship can grow healthily, blossom and bear sweet fruit.
On the way to helping both sides enhance mutual understanding and become closer, I think we can follow a roadmap starting from the media to the intellectuals and finally to the young generation.
China.org.cn: China and India have a long history of communication. What's your opinion on the role of culture in bilateral ties?
Zeng: Culture, like water, irrigates people's souls. Cultural exchange runs deeply in bilateral ties, which cannot be substituted with economic and political activities. Its role has been played in a slow and accumulative way. As two famous cradles of human civilization, China and India have many things to introduce to each other, particularly the classics. And what we have done in the past, we have enriched each other's cultures and world civilization. Here, I would like to note one point that cultural exchanges should keep up with the times and focus on the young generation. We should provide more cultural products that present the contemporary look of both sides and favored by young people. Only through this can we sow seeds of favorable impression to each other in hearts of the future generation.
China.org.cn: As the biggest emerging powers in the world, China and India have developed strong economic relations. What's your opinion on the current situation of bilateral trade? And what should we do to promote Sino-Indian economic ties?
Zeng: Last year, China surpassed the U.S. and became India's biggest trading partner. And India is China's 10th trade partner. Although the trade volume between China and India is not big as those between China and the U.S., China and South Korea, as well as China and Japan, Chinese and Indian trade has great potential. It indeed benefits both peoples.
