Modi, Xi meet on G20 summit lines; discuss bilateral ties

From K J M Varma Hangzhou, Sep 4 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi todaymet Chinese President Xi Jinping here amid differences betweenthe two countries over a raft of issues, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor which runs through PoK. The meeting was held this morning on the sidelines of G20leaders summit at the Hangzhou West Lake State Guest House. "First engagement in Hangzhou is a meeting with the host.PM @narendramodi meets President Xi Jinping," External AffairsMinistry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted. The meeting between the two leaders comes in the backdropof contentious issues including listing of Pakistan-basedterrorist organisations in the UN, China stalling India’smembership at the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and USD46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which runsthrough Pakistan- occupied Kashmir (PoK). The two leaders had last met at the Shanghai CooperationOrganisation (SCO) Summit in June in Tashkent and are againset to meet in Goa next month on the sidelines of BRICSsummit. China too has been concerned over the close ties of Indiawith the US and the recently signed Logistics ExchangeMemorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) which will give the militariesof both countries access to each other’s facilities forsupplies and repairs. After the meeting, both the leaders will attend the BRICSleaders meeting ahead of the G20 summit to finalise theirstrategy at the summit. Modi reached Hangzhou last night after concluding histwo-day visit in Hanoi. He will also hold bilateral meetingswith his Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull and SaudiArabia’s Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. He will attend the two-day G20 summit to begin here laterunder the theme of "Strengthening Policy coordination andBreaking a new path for growth". Tomorrow, he will take part in the second and concludingsession of the G20 and hold bilateral meetings with BritishPrime Minister Theresa May and Argentinian President MauricioMacri before returning to Delhi. A meeting between Modi and US President Barack Obama is,however, not on the cards during this trip, officials said.PTI KJV AYPSAI