India and China signed an Agreement on Cultural Cooperation in May 1998, which provides for an executive Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP) for implementation. The latest CEP signed in June 2007 provides for cooperation in a gamut of cultural fields including exchanges of visits of artists, officials, writers, archivists and archaeologists, organising cultural festivals, exchanges in the field of mass media, youth affairs and sports. In June 2003, an MoU was signed on reciprocal setting up of Cultural Centres in the two capitals.

In response to the interest shown by the Chinese side, Government of India indicated its willingness to build an Indian-style Buddhist Temple in the International Garden on the west side of the White Horse Temple in Luoyang, which is the oldest icon of India-China exchanges in the field of Buddhism. During the visit of the Chinese Premier to India in April 2005, a Memorandum was concluded to this effect. The construction of an Indian-style Buddhist shrine in Luoyang started in 2006. An expert committee under the Chairmanship of Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan was set up to oversee the design and other related aspects of the shrine. The basic structure was completed in December 2006, and secondary decoration work is currently going on. It is expected that the Temple, once completed, will become an enduring symbol of the centuries-old Indian influence in China and epitomize how Buddhism from India became an integral part of Chinese culture and life. In February 2007, the Xuanzang Memorial Hall was inaugurated at Nalanda. The Chinese government assisted in the restoration of the monument by way of funds and materials. During the visit in June 2008 of EAM, a joint stamp release ceremony was also held in Beijing. One of the stamps depicted the Mahabodhi Temple of Bodh Gaya, while the other stamp was on the White Horse Temple of Luoyang City.

A Centre for Indian Studies was also inaugurated in Peking University in June 2003. The Centre also has a visiting Professor of Hindi on deputation from ICCR. An MoU between ICCR and Shenzhen University in consideration of an annual Visiting Chair in the Humanities and Social Sciences was

concluded and signed on 18 June 2008. The first visiting Indian professor has taken over the assignment in Shenzhen University.

In June 2003, a bilateral Education Exchange Programme (EEP) was signed which provides for exchange of scholars, mutual recognition of academic degrees, cooperation in the field of teachers training, exchanges between higher education institutions, and exchanges of Hindi and Chinese language teachers. A new EEP was signed during the visit of President Hu Jintao to India in November 2006. The trend of self-financed students of India and China going to each others country for higher studies is on the rise. Since early 2004, a new phenomenon of Indian students attending medical courses in China has emerged. Currently, there are an estimated 7000 Indian students in China, most of them pursuing medical courses. Many Chinese universities/educational institutions have entered into MoUs for information, faculty and student exchanges with Indian counterparts. An increasing number of Chinese students is also going to India for undergraduate studies. The two governments also annually offer 25 scholarships each under the Cultural Exchange Programme.

The year 2006 was designated as the Year of India-China Friendship, and a series of cultural events were held in both China and India to celebrate the occasion. A major exhibition of rare and precious artefacts from India was organized by the Archaeological Survey of India and the State Administration of Cultural Heritage of China . This exhibition, called "Treasures of Ancient India" featured 100 carefully chosen pieces of sculpture from different periods of Indian history, over eighty percent of which had never gone out of India. The Exhibition travelled to Zhengzhou, Chongqing and Guangzhou in that order and was on display for a total period of ten months.

This was followed by both India and China announcing the year 2007 as the Year of India-China Friendship through Tourism. India Tourism office was established in China in April 2008. Minister for Tourism and Culture inaugurated the office of "India Tourism, Beijing" on April 7 and opened a photo-exhibition "My Discovery of India" by a Chinese media personality. Later, Minister attended the Incredible India Evening at Beijing Hotel, organized to mark the opening of the India Tourism Office. The cultural programme was choreographed by Ms. Leela Samson. The Incredible India show was again performed in the forenoon of 8 April, before the package moved to Shanghai for a performance on 9 April. Week long food festivals were also organized in Beijing and Shanghai to coincide with the opening of the India Tourism Office.

The year 2008 marked the 70th anniversary of the Indian Medical Mission to China and the two countries organised India-China Joint Medical Mission to commemorate the event. During the visit of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in January, the Mission was flagged off. Ten doctors from India visited China in January and a team of Chinese doctors went to India in the latter part of the year under a MoU between the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC).

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Beijing on the 16th April 2009 by the Governments of India and China on the "Festival of India" in China and the "Festival of China" in India to be held in 2010. The MOU was signed by the Ambassador of India to China Nirupama Rao and the Vice Minister, Ministry of Culture, People's Republic of China, Zhao Shao Hua. For preparing and conducting the above festivals, the Ministry of External Affairs of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Culture of the People's Republic of China shall nominate their implementing agencies. The implementing agencies shall reach a detailed agreement which shall outline the activities, duration, venues, and other terms and conditions of the "Festival of India" and the "Festival of China" on a reciprocal basis through consultations in advance. The decision to hold the two festivals was taken by the two Governments during the visit of H.E. Mr. Hu Jintao, President of the People's Republic of China to India in November 2006. The festivals will be cultural events which will seek to promote mutual awareness and understanding of the rich cultural heritage of each country.

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