Indian Guest Visits Beijing

On September 2, Rashmi Jolly visited the Beijing People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (the BPAFFC), introduced by the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Mumbai. She is the president of the Association of Women Entrepreneurs of the Federation of Indian Industry and Commerce, a columnist for the Mumbai Times as well as a renowned art collector.

This is Rashmi’s fourth visit to Beijing since 1992, with a lapse of more than 10 years since her last visit. At the beginning of her visit, Rashmi recalled with great spirit the deep impression Beijing had left on her and highly praised her visit this time, saying that Beijing, and China as a whole, has undergone tremendous changes in many respects in recent years, ahead of many developed countries. 

Zhang Qian, Executive Vice President of the BPAFFC, briefed Rashmi on Beijing's achievements in social culture promotion, business environment improvement, people's livelihood as well as eco-environment protection, being China's center of politics, culture, international exchanges and scientific innovation. She said that both China and India are important developing countries. Enjoying a long-term friendship between the two peoples, there is plenty of room for mutual learning. She hoped that Rashmi could use her social influence in Mumbai to deepen mutual understanding and results-oriented cooperation between the two peoples, including promoting reciprocal exchanges in the fields of young student exchange visits as well as cultural and tourism cooperation. 

Rashmi expressed her hope that with similarity in culture, India and China could learn from each other and achieve common development. Next year will mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and India. Rashmi said she will assist actively together with the BPAFFC and the Chinese Consulate-General in Mumbai in jointly organizing a series of celebrations to open a new chapter in the non-governmental friendly exchanges between the two countries. 

Su Bensheng, Vice President of the BPAFFC, also attended the meeting.