Chinese President Jinping departed for Chennai from the Taj Fisherman’s Cove Hotel in Kovalam after the Indo-China delegation-level talks concluded.
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Following the one-on-one talks between PM Modi and President Xi, delegation-level talks were held between the two countries.
The Indian delegation included PM Narendra Modi, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale.
PM Narendra Modi welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping at Taj Fisherman’s Cove hotel in Kovalam where the delegation-level talks will be held between the two leaders.
The prime minister is also expected to host a lunch for the visiting dignitary, post which President Xi will leave for Nepal.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping reached Mamallapuram on Friday evening.
PM Modi took President Xi for a tour of the temples of Mamallapuram, after the Chinese President arrived in Chennai to a grand welcome for his second informal meeting with PM Modi since they met in China’s Wuhan in April last year.
Later in the evening, PM Modi also hosted a dinner for President Xi with local Tamil cuisine.
Tamil Nadu: Prime Minister @narendramodi & Chinese President #XiJinping leave after attending a cultural program at the Shore Temple in #Mahabalipuram. pic.twitter.com/U3FYprckC4
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) October 11, 2019
Upon his arrival, President Xi was treated to the various folk dances and classical dance of the State of Tamil Nadu. Some of these include the Poikkal Attam, Mayal Attam and Bharatanatyam.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, earlier on Friday reached Chennai, where he was received at the airport by Governor Banwarilal Purohit and Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, along with other officials.
Landed in Chennai.
I am happy to be in the great land of Tamil Nadu, known for its wonderful culture and hospitality.
It is gladdening that Tamil Nadu will host President Xi Jinping. May this Informal Summit further strengthen ties between India and China. pic.twitter.com/IvsTnoGVdW
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 11, 2019
The first such meeting was held between the two leaders in Wuhan from April 27 to 28 last year. The talks were held in a relaxed and candid environment and showed the camaraderie shared between the leaders of two Asian giants.
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This year, the unique meeting will be held in the historical coastal city of Mahabalipuram, which is famous for the temples and architecture made during the Pallava Dynasty.
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The Wuhan summit played a major role in normalising India-China ties after the 72-day long standoff between troops of the two countries at Doklam Plateau in 2017.
Since the first informal summit, Xi and Modi have met on five occasions at least, including the SCO Summits in Qingdao and Bishkek, the G-20 Summits in Buenos Aires and Osaka, and the BRICS meeting in Johannesburg.
A cultural programme will be organised in honour of the visiting leader at the Shore Temple on Friday evening. PM Modi will then host the Chinese President for dinner.
On Saturday, Modi and Xi will have one-to-one meeting followed by delegation-level talks. No Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) or agreements would be signed. No joint communique would be issued either.