New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) Pushing for greater people-to-people contacts, India Wednesday said it was “optimistic” about the future of its relationship with China and underlined close cultural ties between the two countries.
“Talking about our overall bilateral relationship, I am very happy to see the tremendous progress being made,” External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said here.

He was inaugurating an exhibition of Chinese paintings and calligraphy in India, an event that is being held as a precursor to a series of cultural activities that will mark the 60th year of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and China next year.

“I am very optimistic about the future of our relationship and we should continue to work to further enhance cooperation in all fields and strengthen our strategic and cooperative partnership,” Krishna said.

Alluding to the exhibition in which around 30 Chinese artists are participating, Krishna said it would “highlight the intimate cultural ties shared by the two countries”.

“An event like this gives a further push to the people-to-people contacts between the two countries, which has been emphasized as a key component of our relations by leaders from both sides,” he said.

Krishna stressed on the role of exchanges in the fields of culture and arts in “increasing the mutual understanding between our peoples”.

Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, Chinese Ambassador to India Zhang Yan, Long Yuxiang, executive chairman of the China International Cultural and Communication Center, and Dana Schuppert, chairman of 21st Century China India Center for Culture and Communication, were among those present at the inauguration of the exhibition.