In the afternoon of May 15, 2013, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with youth representatives of China and India at Ziguangge of Zhongnanhai.

Li Keqiang welcomed the 100-member youth delegation from India for their visit to China, shaking hands and chatting with the Chinese and Indian representatives who were present. Listening to Nita Chowdhury, head of the Indian delegation and Secretary of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of India, about their experience and impression of the visit, Li Keqiang said he is very glad to meet with Indian young people ahead of his upcoming visit to India. He asked the delegation to convey the sincere regards and best wishes of the Chinese government and people to all the Indian people, especially the young friends.

Li Keqiang said China and India are important close neighbors and partners by nature. The bilateral relationship between the two countries enjoys sustainable and steady development with fruitful cooperation in all fields. China and India, as two ancient civilizations in the world, have created splendid cultures to be proud of and enjoy a time-honored tradition of exchanges in history. They are now both facing arduous tasks as well as important opportunities in their development, voicing the same advocacy of peaceful state-to-state coexistence and the multi-polarization of international relations. The China-India relationship is of great strategic significance viewed from a perspective of Asia and the world, and it will directly affect the future and the welfare of 2.5 billion people of the two nations. In the 21st century, the Asia-Pacific region, especially Asia, is playing an increasingly important role in the world politics and economy, becoming a major engine for world economic growth. The exchanges of the Chinese and Indian civilizations, the linkage of their markets, the harmonious coexistence of these two neighboring countries, their mutual respect for each other's concerns and the proper management of their differences are not only a blessing for Asia, but also for the world. It will bring tangible benefits to the people in both countries and provide strong impetus for development and prosperity in Asia and the world.

Li Keqiang stressed that the young people with vision and aspirations both in China and India should take an in-depth view of the realistic as well as long-term strategic significance of the China-India relationship, to draw wisdom and strength from abundant historical traditions and culture of the two countries and to actively participate in and promote bilateral friendly cooperation. To turn this hope into a reality, it requires to start from youth exchanges. The young people of the two countries need to seize every opportunity to initiate exchanges, planting the seeds of friendship and further fostering those seeds into a full-grown tree, so that the tree of friendship will serve as a solid bridge between the two countries and that the China-India friendly cooperation will benefit the people of both countries, especially the youth.

Launched in 2005, the mechanism for youth exchanges between China and India has so far seen seven exchange programs between the youth representatives of the two countries. The 100-member Indian youth delegation is paying a visit to China at the invitation of the Central Committee of the China Communist Youth League. During their visit, the delegation members have engaged in field trips, seminars, discussions, and other interaction activities, which strengthen the understanding and friendship between the young people of the two countries.