China and India, the two most populous countries in the world, are seeking to promote people-to-people exchanges amid preparations for celebrating the 65th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations, as government leaders and NGO scholars from both countries pledged more effort to boost friendship and inter-civilization at a roundtable held in Beijing.

The recent improvement in bilateral ties started in September 2014 when Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to India and, in May this year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China for the first time after assuming office. The exchanges between top leaders are seen as providing a solid foundation for bilateral people-to-people exchanges at all levels.

China and India are two ancient great civilizations with Buddhism being an important cultural factor binding them. The Chinese monk Xuanzang journeyed to the West (present-day India) in search of sacred books of Buddhism. His legacy is well known in both countries.

The Nalanda University in India was built in 2010 to commemorate the ancient Nalanda institute, where Xuanzang was believed to have studied the scriptures 800 years ago.

Indian doctor Dwarkanath Kotnis was one of five Indian physicians dispatched to China to treat the wounded during the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression in 1938. He passed away in China in 1942 because of epilepsy. Better known by his Chinese name Dr. Ke Dihua, he was regarded as an example for China-Indian friendship and collaboration.

Xuanzang and Dr. Kotnis are among the numerous people from both countries whose vivid stories have contributed to the traditional friendship between China and India, said Guo Yezhou, vice minister of the International Department of Central Committee of CPC (IDCPC), when speaking on Thursday at the roundtable held at the Former Residence of Soong Ching Ling, wife of Sun Yat-sen.

Dr. Kotnis and his team members made it to China partly out of the personal friendship between Madame Soong and Jawaharlal Nehru, who later became the first prime minister of India. This year also marked the 60th anniversary of her India visit where she met Nehru and visited the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA).

Guo said that the two countries now face "unprecedented opportunities" to carry on traditional friendship while deepening practical cooperation.

"China's innovative, coordinated, green, open and inclusive development echo India's call for 'Made in India', 'Digital India' and 'Smart Cities'. The two countries are exhibiting the same spirit from two different bodies," said Guo, quoting Indian Prime Minister Modi's description of China and India's similarities.

He also noted that the Chinese government's "Belt and Road" Initiative could mesh well with India's Project Mausam - instead of being a rival - to serve as a new platform for China-India communications and civilization exchanges.

Nalin Surie is the Director General of the ICWA. He recognized the initiative taken by the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation (CSCLF) in arranging the roundtable as a good opportunity to "draw on tradition to build a future based on friendly exchanges and mutual learning". The China-India bilateral relationship should not be built simply from the top down, although that is also very important.

"They must have a solid foundation and that can be laid on the basis of renewing, broadening and strengthening the exchanges between our two countries be it in youth exchanges, tourism, cultural interaction, renewing religious linkages and broadening educational exchanges," said Surie, who once served as Indian ambassador to China.

As cradles for great civilizations, China and India are both rich in history and culture. "History is the root and culture is the fruit", agreed participants from both countries, stressing mutual appreciation and learning from each other could contribute to the continuous prosperity of the two civilizations.

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