China, India to resume pilgrimage to Xizang’s sacred mountains ,lakes
BEIJING (Global Times ) : Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said that Indian pilgrimage to Mount Gang Renpoche and Lake Mapam Yun Tso in Xizang Autonomous Region of China is an important part of the cultural and people-to-people exchange between the two countries.
“Mount Gang Renpoche and Lake Mapam Yun Tso are the “sacred mountain and lake” for believers of several religions, including Tibetan Buddhism and Hinduism. As agreed between China and India, the pilgrimage will resume this summer. The two sides are advancing relevant preparations at the moment,” Guo said. commenting on the announcement by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs on organizing pilgrimages to Mount Gang Renpoche and Lake Mapam Yun Tso in Xizang Autonomous Region of China from June to August this year,
China and India’s special representatives on the boundary question held the 23rd meeting in Beijing on December 18, 2024, reaching a six-point consensus. It was the first meeting of its kind in five years, according to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
They agreed to further refine the rules for border area management and strengthen the construction of trust-building measures, to continue enhancing cross-border exchanges and cooperation to promote the resumption of Indian pilgrims’ visits to China’s Xizang, and to further strengthen the construction of the special representatives meeting mechanism, according to Xinhua.
The resumption of the annual pilgrimage reflects both sides’ positive attitude toward implementing the consensus. Communication and cooperation at various levels are gradually being restored, and the current progress of this resumption can be seen as “a phased achievement,” which is also of great significance to India, Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times in an earlier interview.Global Times
Image – A view of 6,656-meter-high Mount Kangrinboqe, main peak of the Gangdise Range, in Pulan County of Ali Prefecture, Southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region. (Photo: Xinhua)
