Raipur, Sep 14 (PTI) Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said cultural ties between India and Japan have gained fresh momentum through education, technology and exchanges among students and youths.
Sai interacted with a 17-member student delegation from Ehime University in Japan at his official residence here on Sunday night, officials said.
The students were on a three-day academic visit to Chhattisgarh from September 12 to 14 under the “Academic, Teaching and Cultural Visit Programme for Students” as part of the India-Japan student exchange programme, they said.
During the interaction, discussions covered the historical and cultural ties between India and Japan, Buddhist heritage, education, research, technological innovation, startups and growing exchanges between the youth of the two countries, according to an official statement.
The Japanese delegation was hosted by the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Raipur.
The friendship between India and Japan is rooted in their ancient cultural and spiritual traditions, and has expanded to areas such as education, science, technology, innovation and economic cooperation, Sai told the delegation.
He said India and Japan have been playing an important role in global development by combining tradition with modernity, noting that the two countries share a strong foundation of mutual trust and respect.
Exchanges among students and young people would help strengthen bilateral relations in the years ahead, the chief minister added.
Sai also spoke about the influence of Buddhist philosophy in Japan and its role in connecting the two countries through their shared spiritual heritage.
“India is the land of Lord Buddha, whose message of peace, compassion, friendship and human welfare has influenced many countries around the world. Buddhist philosophy had also left a deep imprint on Japanese culture,” he said.
The chief minister also introduced the students to Chhattisgarh’s archaeological and cultural heritage, referring to sites such as Sirpur, Mainpat and Bhongapal, according to the statement.
Sai expressed hope that exchanges between students of Ehime University and those of higher educational and technical institutions in Chhattisgarh would open avenues for joint research, technological cooperation, startups and innovation.
Such programmes help foster friendship and mutual understanding among the youth of the two countries, he said.
The students also shared their experiences with the CM and praised Indian food. They also spoke about learning about the traditions and cultural significance of Ganesh Utsav, the release said.
During their stay, the Japanese students visited research and incubation centres at NIT Raipur, where they were briefed about startup activities, research projects and emerging technologies being developed at the institute.
On Monday, the delegation visited Sirpur in Mahasamund district, where they explored the ancient Buddhist heritage, architecture, art and cultural history of the region, NIT officials said. PTI TKP NSK
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.