Zhang Dejiang (R), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, meets with members of the Dr. Dwarkanath Kotnis family and the Dr. Dwarkanath Kotnis Memorial Committee before visiting a photo exhibition of Dr. Kotnis in Mumbai, India, June 14, 2015. (Xinhua/Li Tao)
BEIJING, June 17 (Xinhua) -- Top Chinese legislator Zhang Dejiang chose Mumbai as the first stop of his four-day Indian visit to pay tribute to an heroic Indian doctor who died in China's anti-Japanese war and became a symbol of the China-Indian relations.
After arriving in Mumbai, Zhang met relatives of Dwarkanath Kotnis and attended a photo exhibition commemorating this old friend of China.
Dr. Kotnis is a great friend of Chinese people, and an example of China-India friendship, said Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC).
"He gave his life in China while helping the Chinese fight Japanese agression, and he will forever live in the hearts of the Chinese people," Zhang said at the photo exhibition.
Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, meets with Dr. Dwarkanath Kotnis' relatives and Dr. Dwarkanath Kotnis Memorial Committee members before visiting a photo exhibition of Dr. Kotnis in Mumbai, India, June 14, 2015. (Xinhua/Li Tao)
Kotnis, who came to China in 1938 as a member of an Indian medical aid team, is well remembered in China for his selflessness and untiring support of the Chinese people. He died of illness in China in 1942 at the age of 32.
At the photo exhibition, Zhang met Manorama Kotnis, one of the doctor's seven siblings and the only one that is still alive.
"I'm really happy and feel quite honored to know that the Chinese people still remember my brother after more than 70 years," said Manorama. "The friendship between China and India has been continuously developing over the years, and we (the two peoples) are always friends."
During his visit to India, Zhang also met with Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
