Sonipat, 29th October 2019: Emphasizing the need for joint collaboration in higher education, H.E. Sun Weidong, Ambassador of People’s Republic of China in India urged the Indian and Chinese governments to “support and facilitate ways of academic cooperation and exchanges between the two countries by creating new opportunities, establishing platforms and providing support for universities in both countries.” He was addressing a scholarly gathering to celebrate the 5th Anniversary of the Centre for China India Studies (CICS) at the O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU).
He also shared the news of a high level delegation meeting between India and China and the possibility of mutual degree recognition. “A high level delegation from the Indian Ministry of Human Resource Development went to China and met the senior officials of the Ministry of Education to have the first meeting of a joint working group. The two sides reached consensus on the various ways in the education field including discussing the details of mutual degrees’ recognition agreement between both countries which will surely benefit more students to study in each other’s countries after the signature of the agreement.”
To help jointly achieve world class institutions in India and China, the Ambassador also mooted the idea of establishing India-China centers at various universities in both countries. “The universities of the two countries should consider the establishment of a China-India University Alliance so that we can all share advantages, have joint exchanges and research programmes and work together for a better education outcome which will benefit our faculties and students by improving teaching quality and help achieve world class level universities.”
In his Keynote address, he appreciated the efforts of CICS in promoting India- China relations including academic exchanges, talks and conferences. To further the reach of bilateral understanding in the field of higher education he proposed establishment of such centres in other Indian universities too, for better understanding of the Chinese language, culture and history. “We think language is the key to understanding. There are more and more young people in India who would like to study Chinese culture and language. We are willing to help Indian universities establish centres and provide platform to Indian students to learn Chinese language and understand Chinese culture and history,” he said.
Welcoming the Ambassador to JGU the Founding Vice Chancellor Prof (Dr) C. Raj Kumar congratulated CICS on its ceaseless efforts to promote India-China relations. On the need to build stronger ties between the two countries he said, “We cannot rely upon governments alone to build a stronger connect between India and China. We as academic institutions, thinkers, scholars, students, researchers have a bigger responsibility that goes beyond any government to strengthen this partnership.”
The following session on the Indian Ambassadors’ Panel Discussion on the “Future India-China Relationship” included Mr. Vijay Nambiar, former Ambassador/High Commissioner of India to Algiers, Afghanistan, Malaysia, China and Pakistan and Former Permanent Representative at India’s UN Mission in New York; Mr. Anil Wadhwa, Distinguished Fellow, Vivekananda International Foundation and the former Ambassador of India, Italy, Poland, Oman and Thailand with Mr. Suresh Goel, Distinguished Fellow, Society for Policy Studies and former Ambassador of India to Lao People’s Democratic Republic & Former Director General of Indian Council of Cultural Relations.
The session was chaired by Dr. Mohan Kumar, Professor and Vice-Dean – Global Initiatives and Institution Building (GIBS), Jindal School of International Affairs and the former Ambassador of India to France, who helmed the intellectual discussion by not only introducing the esteemed panelists but also to share their views on the current scenario and context of India-China relations.
The week-long celebration commemorating the 5th Anniversary of CICS witnessed events ranging from India-China Art Exhibition, Artist Dialogue and Workshop, Ambassadors’ Panel discussion on India-China Future Relationship, Cross-culture Dialogue on Gender Equality in India and China, Distinguished Public Lecture on various themes. The event witnessed participation of students, faculty, artists, dignitaries from both countries.
About Centre for India China Studies
Centre for India China Studies (CICS) was established in October 2014 by the O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU). It is a multi-disciplinary intellectual platform and resource hub for academics, practitioners and students interested in studies of South Asia and greater China. The centre specialises in research areas related to legal and political systems, trade and diplomatic relations, finance and economics, judiciary and civil society and journalism and media development of the two Asian geo-political regions. It fosters research collaboration and exchange opportunities between scholars, students and institutions of the two regions and is committed to the larger vision of Sino-India collaboration and south-south cooperation.
ABOUT THE O.P. JINDAL GLOBAL UNIVERSITY
The Government of India has recognised JGU as an “Institution of Eminence”. JGU is an initiative of the Jindal Steel & Power Foundation.
Founded in 2009, O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) is a non-profit global and research oriented university established by the Government of Haryana and recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC). JGU maintains a 1:10 faculty-student ratio and appoints faculty members from India and different parts of the world with outstanding academic qualifications and experience. With over 5000 students studying and living on a fully residential campus, JGU’s eight schools are: law, business, international affairs, public policy, liberal arts & humanities, journalism, art & architecture and banking & finance. This year, JGU became the youngest Indian university to break into the QS World University Rankings 2020. JGU is the only Indian private university in the top 150 ‘young’ universities in the world (under 50 years of age) in the QS Young University Rankings 2020. JGU is the youngest University in the world to feature in both these rankings.