总领事马经儒先生到访了广州历史悠久的华林寺，受到寺院住持光明法师及同僚，以及广州市佛教协会副会长周文军女士的热情欢迎。
华林寺是中国最古老的佛教寺院之一，与印度有着深厚的历史渊源。菩提达摩，这位来自印度的佛教高僧，据信于公元6世纪来到广东。他被尊为佛教禅宗的创始人，禅宗后来传播至日本和韩国。总领事参观了寺内纪念达摩祖师功绩的大殿。
总领事与住持进行了友好交流，共同回顾了延续数千年之久的温暖民间往来。住持回忆起2016年印度总统阁下到访华林寺的情景。双方强调，华林寺是印中两国深厚民间友谊的象征，并同意保持密切联系。

Consul General Mr Gince Kuruvilla Mattam paid a visit to the historic Hualin Temple in Guangzhou. He was warmly welcomed by Temple Abbot Venerable Master Guangming and his colleagues as well as  Guangzhou Buddhist Association Deputy Director General Ms Zhou Wenjun.
Hualin Temple, one of the oldest Buddhist temples in China, has deep historic connections with India. Bodhi Dharma or Ta-mo, the venerated Buddhist monk from India, is believed to have come to Guangdong in the 6th century CE. He is regarded as the founder of Chan or Dhyan tradition of Buddhism, which later spread to Japan and Korea. Consul General visited the grand hall in the temple commemorating the legacy of Bodhi Dharma. 
Consul General and Abbot engaged in friendly exchanges, recalling the warm people to people ties that have been continuing through millennia. Abbot recalled the visit of Hon’ble President of India to the temple in 2016. Both sides emphasized that Hualin Temple served as a symbol of strong people-to-people connections between India and China, and agreed to maintain close contact. http://t.cn/AXaTXDDd