A 100-member youth delegation from China is visiting India from 19-29 November, 2006. This is part of a reciprocal exchange agreed to by both sides at the time of Premier Wen Jiabao’s visit to India in April 2005, under which a 100-member youth delegation from India visited China in October 2006. During the Chinese delegation’s visit, the Presidents of India and China together met with the youth delegations of the two countries, and addressed them. Following is President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s speech to the youth delegations:

Address to the

Youth Delegations during the visit of

His Excellency Mr. Hu Jintao,

President of People Republic of China

21 November 2006

Enlightened Citizens of the world

I am delighted to participate and address the Youth Delegations of China and India in the company of Your Excellency Mr. President Hu Jintao. It is always a unique experience to meet the young because they embody hope for the future. When I see you young friends, the youth of China and India I can see more than a billion youth of our planet. The youth indeed is well known for their ignited minds with a purpose and enthusiasm. The Ignited mind of the youth is indeed among all the resources, the most powerful resource, on the earth, above the earth and under the earth. We both countries are fortunate to have youth power of ignited minds.

Friends I would like to share certain experiences of the last four years as President of India. I have travelled almost all parts of my country and visited 14 countries. During these visits, I have interacted with over one million youth below 17 years of age both in the urban and rural environment. One message, I would like to give to the youth from India and China, is that the youth irrespective of their nationality, have a dream to live in a peaceful, prosperous and happy nation. In these circumstances, what can be the mission for India and China? China already has got a vision to build a harmonious society in China with economic development so as to achieve prosperity with its age old value system propagated by the great philosopher like Confucius during the period 500 BC. Similarly, young friends, India has a vision to transform India into an economically developed nation before the year 2020 with its ethical base drawn from its civilizational heritage from before Buddha’s enlightenment in 500 BC.

Friends, let me recall the great philosophy put forth by Confucius and Buddha for realizing a happy and harmonious and prosperous society. I would like to give the verses which reflect the great thoughts of two sages of great countries in the form of a hymn.

Righteousness

Where there is righteousness in the heart

There is beauty in the character.

When there is beauty in the character,

There is harmony in the home.

When there is harmony in the home.

There is an order in the nation.

When there is order in the nation,

There is peace in the world.

Dear young friends of India and China, can you see the beautiful thoughts of great noble minds of China and India. The peace in the world indeed is born out of righteousness in the heart. Righteousness in the heart brings harmony in the home which is cherished by both our countries.

What is needed today in the world is the birth of an enlightened society. To achieve an enlightened society, we need righteous citizens, who can be evolved through education with value system up to the age of 17, religion transforming into a spiritual force, and above all our both nations playing a great role in uplifting the people of the countries who are living below poverty line. This can be done by empowering the nation with knowledge and resources so that the inequality between people of various nations is reduced and peace is born.

The youth of our two countries with vision provided by the leaders of our nations can definitely bring peace, prosperity and happiness to our planet.

I wish you success in all your missions. May God bless you.