From June 11 to 18, 2026, an Indian artist and media delegation, organized by the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Kolkata, successfully visited Kunming and Dali in Yunnan Province. The visit aimed to facilitate in-depth cultural and artistic exchanges, provide an immersive experience of Yunnan’s unique folk traditions, and give a comprehensive picture of China’s economic and social development achievements.

In Kunming, the delegation was invited to attend the opening ceremony of the 7th China-South Asia Cooperation Forum. At the Sub-Forum on People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges, the delegation performed captivating Indian songs and dances. Members visited the Yunnan Federation of Literary and Art Circles and Yunnan Arts University, where they interacted with local artists. The Odissi dance and folk songs shared the stage with China’s Derung dance and the traditional Jingpo instrument “Tuliang”, staging a cross-border audio-visual spectacle. The delegation also toured the Yunnan Provincial Museum and the Yunnan Branch of China News Service. In China’s model heritage villages such as Chenggong Wanxichong and Shicui Valley, they observed the firsthand outcomes of agricultural industry upgrading and cultural empowerment, experiencing the happy version of the beautiful countryside in “a life called Yunnan”.

During their stay in Dali, the delegation strolled along the Erhai Lake ecological corridor to appreciate the green environment, and visited art villages such as Ani'me and Zhonghe for cultural exchanges. At a lively rural songfest, Chinese and Indian artists bonded through music and dance, connecting hearts through art and forging friendship through culture.

Deeply impressed by China’s development achievements, delegation members remarked that the visit not only deepened their understanding of the real China but also ignited their passion for fostering China-India friendship. They expressed their readiness to actively promote exchanges and mutual learning between the two ancient civilizations, contributing people-to-people strength to the sound and steady development of bilateral relations.