Beijing: The India-China Friendship year formally came to a close on Tuesday with the inauguration of an exhibition of over 100 Indian antiques here.

Speaking on the occasion, the visiting Indian Minister for Culture and Tourism Ambika Soni said the message of this Friendship Year has been "that our (Sino-Indian) friendship needs to be harnessed for realising the full potential of our bilateral ties."

She stressed that the momentum generated by the Friendship Year must be kept going. "While a curtain had now fallen on the Sino-Indian Friendship Year, new curtains must go up," she said.

The exhibition, the largest ever of its kind being held in China, is titled the "Treasures of ancient India: exhibition of Indian civilisation" and will be on display for two months at the Capital Museum.

Most of the exhibits are travelling outside India for the first time and Ms. Soni said that this fact was an indication of the importance the Indian Government gives to its ties with China.

The inauguration was also attended by the Chinese Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dai Bingguo, Shan Jixiang, Director General of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage and Indian Ambassador to China Nirupama Rao.

Mr. Shan called the exhibition "a handshake across the Himalayas." He emphasised the fact that India and China have had cultural exchanges spanning thousands of years to the mutual benefit of both civilisations. "India influenced Chinese religion, dance, astronomy and calendar calculations while China gave India tea, silk and paper-making techniques," he said.

Ms. Rao said the exhibition was a way for both countries to "rediscover each other and renew traditional ties."

It will also travel to three other Chinese cities: Zhengzhou, Chongqing and Guangzhou.

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