Need for Indians, Chinese to learn each other’s languages: Swaraj

| | Beijing

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday asked Indians and Chinese to learn each other’s languages as it will help them overcome the communication barriers, which could further strengthen relations between the two neighbours.

Swaraj, who is on a four-day visit here, made the remarks during a programme, titled ‘Contribution of Hindi in India-China Friendship’, organised by the Indian Embassy.

“When two friends sit together, what do they want? They want to talk their hearts out to each other, share what they feel. And for that we need a language. I should be able to understand Chinese when you speak, and you should be able to understand Hindi when I talk,” Swaraj said.

If there is an interpreter sitting between two friends, he may be able to translate the words but not the feelings with which I say something.