Ambassador Hua Junduo (2nd, R) and Mme. Zhao Shuyun (1st, L) with Indian External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh (3rd, R), former President of India and Mrs. K. R. Narayanan (3rd, L and 2nd, L) and MEA Additional Secretary Nirupama Rao (1st, R) at the reception

On the evening of June 25, Chinese Ambassador to India Hua Junduo hosted a grand reception in New Delhi to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the initiation of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence (Panchsheel). Indian External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh was present at the reception as the Chief Guest. Ambassador Hua Junduo and the Minister both spoke at the reception.

Ambassador Hua extended a warm welcome to all the guests for joining the Chinese friends to commemorate the anniversary. He pointed out that on June 28 and 29 1954, Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai issued joint statements with Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in New Delhi and Myanmar Prime Minister U Nu in Yangon respectively, and they promulgated for the first time the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. He noted that over the past 50 years, these Principles had stood the test of history and gained broad recognition and adherence of the international community, thus becoming the basic norms governing state-to-state relations. Ambassador Hua stressed that these Principles still possessed  immense vitality in the backdrop of the current profoundly transforming international scenario. The basic contents of these Principles have been written into the Constitution of the People's Republic of China and become the basic norms guiding China's independent foreign policy of peace. He said that China was willing to constantly enrich and evolve the spirit of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence with India, Myanmar and all the other countries to make greater contribution to the cause of world peace and development.

Indian External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh said that it was an honor for him to come and celebrate the 50th anniversary of Panchsheel in Delhi with Chinese friends. He noted that the principles' relevance had endured through the years as a guide for the peaceful and harmonious conduct of international relations. Panchsheel enshrined the right of all nations to choose their own path while interacting with others on the sound basis of mutual respect and equality. The Minister stressed further that the occasion gave India and China the opportunity of emphasizing the friendly and cooperative relationship that existed today between the two countries, and their mutual desire to develop wider and closer cooperation and understanding in regional and international affairs. India and China shall continue to work together to qualitatively enhance bilateral interaction in all areas and at all levels, and to maintain, and indeed accelerate, the growth of our bilateral friendship and cooperation.

Among 400 guests attending the reception are former President of India and Mrs. K. R. Narayanan, Indian government officials including MEA Secretary R. M. Abhyankar and J. C. Sharma, Additional Secretary Nirupama Rao, Culture Secretary Dhanendra Kumar and Indian friendly personages from all walks of life as well as diplomatic envoys to India.

(by Chinese Embassy in India)