Beijing, Nov 25: After stepping up interactions and exchanges in the political, diplomatic, military and trade sectors, India and China are now focussing on the cultural aspect of bilateral ties. "Unfortunately, our cultural interaction in recent years has lagged behind. The need to address this lack has been greatly felt," Indian Ambassador to China, Nalin Surie, was quoted as saying by a leading official weekly.

Surie noted that India and China took "important decisions" during Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's visit here in June to intensify cultural exchanges between the two nations, bound by ties of civilisation, history, religion and economic interaction. "We are to set up cultural centres in each other's capital," Surie said, stressing the need for permanent establishments in New Delhi and Beijing to promote Chinese and Indian cultures among the common people to enhance people-to-people understanding.

He said the new cultural exchange programme for 2003-06 was more "action-oriented" and there was a separate education exchange programme.
"We are now focussing on implementation," Surie was quoted as saying.

Bureau Report