A compelling case for pragmatism
When Chinese President Xi Jinping landed in Macau, the world’s gambling capital, the air was thick with anticipation. Macau,often dubbed the “Las Vegas of the East,” is much more than a beacon of wealth and opulence.
The India-China informal summit kicked off on Friday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi giving Xi Jinping a tour of ancient temples in Tamil Nadu’s Mahabalipuram.
At the temple complex, the two leaders had a guided tour of three monuments – Arjuna’s penance, Panch Raths, and the Shore Temple.
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PM @narendramodi and President Xi Jinping are at the Pancha Rathas complex in Mamallapuram. pic.twitter.com/ejVC1aBtxH
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— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 11, 2019
Dressed in the traditional Tamil attire of ‘veshti’ (white dhoti), half-sleeve white shirt and angavastram over his shoulder, PM Modi in the evening welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping at Mamallapuram, also known Mahabalipuram, for the second informal India-China Summit.
Xi, who arrived earlier from Beijing, was equally casually attired in a white shirt and black trousers.
Earlier in the day, the Chinese President was accorded a red-carpet welcome at the Chennai airport with performances by folk dancers and musicians. Jinping was received by Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit.
From there, the Jinping travelled by road to the ITC Grand Chola Hotel and then from there to the Unesco world heritage site to meet Modi.
On Xi’s arrival, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: “Welcome to India, President Xi Jinping!”
While Modi will spend Friday night at Taj Fisherman’s Cove Resort and Spa beach resort near Mahabalipuram, the Chinese President will drive back to the ITC Grand Chola Hotel.
On Saturday morning, Xi will again go to Mahabalipuram by road and have discussions with Modi at the Taj Fisherman’s Cove Resort and Spa.
PM Modi will hold one-to-one and delegation-level talks with the Chinese President. Meeting between the two leaders has no specific agenda. The focus of the meeting is on improving people-to-people contacts and on how to maintain peace and tranquillity along on India-China border.
Terrorism, including training, financing and any other support to terror groups, will be one of the key issues to be discussed at the informal summit.
Ahead of the meet, China’s state media said the ‘Modi-Xi’ meeting would focus “more” on how to move beyond the past and present differences to forge a cooperative partnership.
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