At book fair, China confronts Nehru's sensitive legacy

“Nehru gave China Panchsheel,” remarked Li Changchun, one of China's most powerful leaders, on Tuesday, August 31, morning, as he found himself standing, somewhat surprised, in front of a bust of India's first Prime Minister in the heart of Beijing.

A Chinese visitor poses in front of a replica of Jawaharlal Nehru's
desk, at the India Pavilion at the ongoing Beijing Book Fair 

“In fact,” Mr. Li added, referring to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence which India and China signed in 1954, “we're still using this to solve our problems with many countries.”

Mr. Li, China's propaganda and media chief and fifth highest ranking leader in the Communist Party, was speaking during a visit to the Indian pavilion at the ongoing Beijing International Book Fair.

India, which is the country of honour at the fair, has brought 26 publishers and is showcasing three main themes — Buddhism, given its close resonance with China, and the writings of Rabindranath Tagore and Nehru. Tagore, who visited China in the 1920s, is widely popular here. He was — and continues to be — a hit with the intellectuals, and is still read in colleges. So, for the Indian organisers, Buddha and Tagore were easy choices.

Full report here Hindu