The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee attended at Peking University today a Round Table of Vice Chancellors and heads of higher education institutions of India and China. He received reports from representatives of both sides on the discussions and witnessed the exchange of ten MOUs for cooperation between the institutions of higher learning of India and China.

Addressing the gathering, the President said India and China are poised to play a significant and constructive role in the 21st Century.

The President said as far back as the 6th Century, seats of higher learning like Nalanda, Takshashila, Vikramashila, Valabhi, Somapura and Odantapuri had drawn scholars and cultivated contacts and academic exchanges with famed institutions of other countries in the region and beyond. Takshashila was, in a sense, the most ‘connected’ of the Indian universities, a meeting ground of four civilizations – Indian, Persian, Greek and Chinese. Many renowned people came to Takshashila – Panini, Alexander, Chandragupta Maurya, Chanakya, Charaka, and Chinese Buddhist monks Fa Xian and Xuanzang. Today, the Government of India, in partnership with Indian and international partners is taking a number of far reaching initiatives to revive this tradition and create centres of excellence that can be ranked among the leading institutions of the world.

The President said research and innovation are the keystones for widening a country’s production potential. Future growth of nations will result not so much from the utilization of resources with existing technology than from its better usage through more advanced technology. A conducive educational eco-system is essential to promote innovation and entrepreneurship. The quality of students passing out from educational institutions is almost always inspired by the quality of teaching, research and orientation towards research and innovation. The inter-linkages of educational institutions - through the trinity of research, innovation and entrepreneurship - with industry are at the core of sustained momentumum in the manufacturing sector, inclusive and balanced economic growth and all round development of people.

This release issued at 1100 hrs.