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Vajpayee in Shanghai after visit to Buddhist landmarks
Shanghai, June 25: Having charted out a new roadmap for Sino-Indian ties, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today fulfilled a long-standing wish to admire the birthplace of China`s Buddhism, the religion that provided the main link between the two countries in ancient times, before arriving tonight in modern China`s industrial and commercial hub.
Shanghai, June 25: Having charted out a new roadmap for Sino-Indian ties, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today fulfilled a long-standing wish to admire the birthplace of China`s Buddhism, the religion that provided the main link between the two countries in ancient times, before arriving tonight in modern China`s industrial and commercial hub.
The 78-year-old Indian leader savoured China`s rich cultural heritage in one of the country`s seven ancient capitals, Luoyang in central China, before flying 90 minutes behind schedule into Shanghai, symbol of China`s great leap forward.
As he went round the famed Buddhist relics in central China`s Henan province, taking time off his busy schedule, he remarked it was his long-standing wish to visit this place.
The Longmen caves, one of the three great treasure houses of stone sculpture in China, and the White Horse temple, regarded as the birthplace of Buddhism in this country, were on the itinerary of tourist Vajpayee, a day after he concluded discussions in Beijing with those who run this country of 1.3 billion.
The political and trade agreements he reached with the Chinese leadership have generated considerable satisfaction on both sides with terms like "a win-win situation", a "new era" and a "blueprint for a qualitatively new relationship" being used. The debate over give and take may continue for long but the gains from the visit are obvious.
The space and prominence given by the official media in this country to the results of the Prime Minister`s discussions with the Chinese leadership are reflective of the significance attached to it in this country.
China`s largest English newspaper, `China Daily`, today carried three stories on the front page on Vajpayee`s statements and the joint declaration issued after his talks.
The coverage given by the ruling Communist party`s mouthpiece, `People`s Daily`, and the state-run TV was also very prominent.
Vajpayee`s determination to enhance a healthy relationship with China is yet another reason for optimism over bilateral ties, the `China Daily` reported, noting that the visit had attracted wide attention. On the business front also, "right signals" had been received from the visit, it said.
Bureau Report
As he went round the famed Buddhist relics in central China`s Henan province, taking time off his busy schedule, he remarked it was his long-standing wish to visit this place.
The Longmen caves, one of the three great treasure houses of stone sculpture in China, and the White Horse temple, regarded as the birthplace of Buddhism in this country, were on the itinerary of tourist Vajpayee, a day after he concluded discussions in Beijing with those who run this country of 1.3 billion.
The political and trade agreements he reached with the Chinese leadership have generated considerable satisfaction on both sides with terms like "a win-win situation", a "new era" and a "blueprint for a qualitatively new relationship" being used. The debate over give and take may continue for long but the gains from the visit are obvious.
The space and prominence given by the official media in this country to the results of the Prime Minister`s discussions with the Chinese leadership are reflective of the significance attached to it in this country.
China`s largest English newspaper, `China Daily`, today carried three stories on the front page on Vajpayee`s statements and the joint declaration issued after his talks.
The coverage given by the ruling Communist party`s mouthpiece, `People`s Daily`, and the state-run TV was also very prominent.
Vajpayee`s determination to enhance a healthy relationship with China is yet another reason for optimism over bilateral ties, the `China Daily` reported, noting that the visit had attracted wide attention. On the business front also, "right signals" had been received from the visit, it said.
Bureau Report