Nor did they offer any plans for a structural continuation of the contact through joint projects on specific issues of common concern. Hence, it may be that for the Indians scholars this was an unaccustomed event, outside of their usual concerns and expectations. The team of 11 Chinese scholars was more easy to follow as it was the consistent and continuing center of the three weeks of conferences. The set of conferences had a well-defined goal, namely, to look for the roots in Hindu philosophy for the later development of Chinese, that is, especially Mahayana, Buddhism. The impediments and successes were important in showing what is needed for progress in philosophical vision and cultural collaboration between the two great peoples.
Culture shock is inevitable as one goes from one culture to another.
That the Chinese and Indian cultures are so rich, distinctive and long established assured significant culture shock. On the surface this came from the discomforts of food and travel noted above. More deeply the shock perhaps reflected the hold exercised by the material conditions of life. China has been focused upon physical development in the image of Western progress for over a century, and very notably in the 1919 movement, the goals of the Great Revolution, and the recent development of the market. It was perhaps natural that this would become a measuring rod for comparisons.