Editor's note: Chinese President Xi Jinping is paying a state visit to Sri Lanka, the third stop on his four-nation tour, which also includes Tajikistan, the Maldives and India. Forum readers express their welcome to Xi, saying that his visits, which are of great significance, will help enhance good neighbor relations and open new opportunities for cooperation and development between China and South Asian countries.
KIyer (India)
China has conquered the hearts and minds of peoples around the world, including Indians. It has started to bring about a change in the mindset of people, how we view each other and even ourselves. The future of India will be dominated more by the Chinese way of thinking than any other.
Indians have come together recently, shedding all divisions of religion, regions and other petty interests to elect a government that draws inspiration from the Chinese model of development - unleashing the productive power of its people in working hard, building a strong, confident nation that offers opportunity and prosperity to all those that interact with it. Indians admire and aspire to have a nation of shining cities, built by hardworking, innovative people, looking out for the poorest and weakest and having the confidence to look at the outer world with justifiable pride.
There is a growing awareness and wisdom sweeping across Asia, to put the artificially created tangles and thorns of the past aside. There is a great drive from the people for their leaders to provide policies that put their interests first, to prosper, to live in a friendly, productive and prosperous neighborhood.
India will welcome the visiting head of a friendly, good neighboring family. I hope it is a traditional Indian welcome - the way we welcome friends and neighbors.
A warm welcome awaits Xi and other Chinese accompanying him. Our doors should always be open in welcome to our neighbors.