Your Excellency, Former Prime Minister of India, H.E. Deve Gowda, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, good evening.

On behalf of the Chinese Embassy, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the Unity International Foundation, the organizer of this wonderful photographic exhibition.

My gratitude is also extended to the State Council Information Office of China, and the photographers who traveled to the snowland and brought back the unbeatable beauty of that mysterious land to us through their camera lenses.

Last year, the Information Office of China invited 100 photographers from 10 countries including the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Canada and many others to the west part of China. Within 15 days, they shot thousands of photos. Here only 350 of them are presented, but I am sure form these 350 photos you can get a glimpse of the beautiful mountains, rivers, and the holy landscape.

I would also like to remind all guests present here this evening of a fact, which we might all have neglected. These photos were shot in the high altitude areas of more than 11,000 feel above see level in the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau of China, the north side of Himalaya. I assume that many of us will suffer physical reaction to the low oxygen there.

Since we are going to experience no physical suffering here in Lalit Kala Akademi this evening, I would like to suggest all of you to enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the snowland.

Once again thank you all.