It’s beginning of a new era: PM Modi

Mamallapuram, October 12

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the second informal summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping heralded the start of a new era in India-China relations.

“Strategic communication between the two countries has led to increased stability,” he underlined in his opening remarks at the beginning of delegation-level talks. Modi and Xi have met 17 times at structured summits and two informal summits, including the one in Mamallapuram. He recalled that at the Wuhan meeting, the two leaders had decided not to allow differences to fester into disputes.

The PM began the second day of the informal summit by “plogging’’on the beach.  With no one at the beach and a couple of TV cameras for company, dressed in a black tracksuit, he picked up trash with bare hands. Later, he paced in the foyer of the beach resort while waiting for Xi to arrive and then sat next to the driver in a battery-operated vehicle while XI and interpreters sat behind him as they drove down to a retreat. 

Xi was circumspect in his opening remarks. “I may follow up on the proposals and issues discussed on Friday. I will make some responses,’’ he said. The leaders then held delegation-level talks. Besides PM Modi, the Indian side included National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale. 

Xi was more forthcoming on the Indian hospitality, stating he was “really overwhelmed’’ and the trip to South India was a “memorable experience for me and us (the delegation).’’ The two leaders had met on Friday evening and toured the temples of Mamallapuram that was followed by a cultural programme and dinner. At a late night briefing, Gokhale said the two leaders discussed bilateral issues and their respective national visions.  — TNS