○  印度总理莫迪在中国与印度经贸论坛上英语演讲稿  ○

　　Friends!

　　I am really happy to be here with you. Before coming to this forum, I had very detaileddiscussion with the CEOs of major Chinese companies. I am sure our interactions today will leadto benefits to the people and businesses of the two countries.

　　Along with me, a number of officials and prominent Indian CEOs, are also present here.

　　As you know, China and India are two great and old civilisations of the world. They haveprovided many lights of knowledge on the entire human society. Today, we together, representmore than one third of the Global population.

　　India and China have a common History of Five Thousand Years and a common Boundary ofover Three Thousand and four hundred kilometers.

　　Two thousand years ago, at the invitation of the Chinese Emperor Ming, two Indian monkscame to China. They brought many Sanskrit scriptures on two white horses. They translatedmany Buddhist classics and scriptures into Chinese language.

　　It is believed that they introduced Buddhism in China. The king built a temple in honour of thisevent. The temple is popularly known as White Horse Temple. The temple then increased inimportance as Buddhism grew within China, and spread to Korea, Japan and Vietnam.

　　The serenity of Buddhism in Asian countries is the seed of their success. I strongly believe thatthis century belongs to Asia. And Buddhism will be a further unifying and catalysing forceamong the Asian countries.

　　Your famous scholars like Fa Hien and Hiuen Tsang have taught many secrets of Chinesewisdom to Indians. In addition, they discovered many secrets within India itself. Hiuen Tsanghad visited my own home town in Gujarat. From his works, we know today that there was aBuddhist Monastery there. When Hiuen Tsang returned to China he brought with him Sanskritscriptures and books of wisdom. The traditional systems of medicine of the two countriesbased on natural elements also have a lot in common.

　　In recent times too, this stream of knowledge is flowing across our borders. Prof. Ji Xianlin ofPeking University was a great Sanskrit scholar. He spent most part of his life in translatingValmiki’s Ramayan into Chinese. Indian government has honoured him by bestowing aprestigious Award in 2008.

　　More recently, Prof. Jin Ding Han has translated Tulasi Ramayan into Chinese. Translations ofBhagwad Gita and Mahabharat are also popular with the Chinese people. I thank these Chinesescholars for introducing Indian culture to the Chinese people.

　　Friends! India has always been a knowledge society. Whereas, you have been an innovatingsociety. Ancient China was highly advanced in Science and Technology. Like Indians, Chinesetoo sailed to Americas and distant corners of the world in their ships. They had the Mariners’Compass and Gun Powder.

　　But I must add that during this time, Indian astronomy and mathematics were quite popularin China. Indian astronomers were appointed on the official boards set up to prepare calendars.