Published 03:54 IST, October 3rd 2019
Mahatma Gandhi left a precious spiritual legacy for the world: China
China stated that Gandhi, the leader of India's freedom movement, not only left his mark on India but also left behind a spiritual legacy for the world
October 2 has a very big significance for Beijing since the statue of Gandhi, built by China's acclaimed sculptor and craftsman, Yuan Xikun, was introduced at the well known Chaoyang park in the year 2005, giving a chance to his admirers in the Communist country to pay their respects to the torchbearer of peace and harmony.
Gandhi's spiritual legacy
Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary again witnessed the park echoing with Gandhi bhajans and quotes as it takes place every year in order to commemorate his birthday.
In relation to that, China stated that the freedom fighter not only left his mark on India but also left behind a spiritual legacy for the world to embrace. The country was witnessed quoting the Mahatma's words that said China and India are partners sharing their sorrows and happiness on a common path.
China further praised the Mahatma by saying that Gandhi being the leader of the freedom movement, had significant contributions that led to the Independence of India.
Taking into account Gandhi's sayings that talked about China and India is on a common path, Chinese Foreign Ministry representative, Geng Shuang, stated that China wants to further develop a diplomatic trust and a sense of cooperation with India.
Shuang further added that both the countries are at a very crucial stage and China is all in to build up trust and cooperation along with the target of achieving the national revival of things. He also said that there is a willingness from the Chinese side to strengthen deliberate communication.
His remarks came as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to meet in Mamallapuram. PM Modi and President Xi would hold their second informal summit at Mamallapuram from October 11-13. Their first summit in the Chinese city of Wuhan a year ago has added to the improved relations between the two nations.
A stark contrast between Gandhi and Mao Zedong
For quite a long time, Gandhi, a contemporary of Mao Zedong who drove China's national freedom movement, has stayed a mystery in China as the two world leaders had contrasting approaches in terms of political philosophies.
While Mao stayed a firm promoter of violent freedom developments with his well-known proclamation that power streams out of the barrel of the weapon, Gandhi's peaceful philosophies against the British battled to grab the attention of the Chinese.
According to accounts, Mahatma Gandhi's thoughts seemed to be aligning with the modern-day citizens of China as his ideas about devotion, self-control, peace has a lot of common points with philosophies given by Chinese thinkers such as Mengzi, Confucius, and Zhuangzi.
Meanwhile, China has one establishment that focuses on Gandhian studies. It was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi at the Fudan University in the city of Shanghai, in the year 2015.
(With inputs from agencies)
Updated 12:24 IST, October 3rd 2019