On February 11, 2014, the Chinese Embassy in India held the launching ceremony for the Year of China-India Friendly Exchanges in New Delhi. The visiting State Councilor Yang Jiechi and Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari were present.

Yang Jiechi said in his speech that China and India has enjoyed long-standing and well-established friendly exchanges. For thousands of years, the two time-honored civilizations have enhanced significance and beauty to each other, learned from each other, and jointly created glorious history. Sixty years ago, the Chinese and Indian leaders, embracing the trend of the times, jointly championed the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. Since then, these principles have served as the basic norms governing international relations. Entering the new century, China and India become the world's most dynamic emerging market countries. With the joint efforts of leaders of the two countries and people from all walks of life, China and India have established a strategic and cooperative partnership for peace and prosperity, expanded and deepened bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and brought tangible benefits to the two peoples. President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh unanimously pointed out that the Chinese and Indian dreams are interconnected and mutually compatible. When China and India join hands and pursue peaceful, cooperative and common development, we can certainly realise our respective dreams of national renewal. This will not only benefit the 2.5 billion people of our two countries, but also be a true blessing to both Asia and the world.

Mohammad Hamid Ansari said in his speech that the ancient Silk Road once connected the two civilizations of India and China closely together, and brought about massive bilateral exchanges of ideology, culture, personnel and products. At present, the Indian and Chinese dreams of national rejuvenation have, once again, brought the two sides together. The two countries should open the door, expand personnel exchanges, learn from each other, increase mutual understanding, strengthen unity and cooperation, and promote the great development of the India-China relations.

Nearly 600 people from all circles of society in India were present at the ceremony. Artists from the Guangxi Acrobatic Troupe performed wonderful Chinese acrobatics for the audience on the scene, and was warmly received.