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War games, Kashmir and a US$57 billion question: as Xi meets Modi, a look at the big issues
- The meeting is aimed at thawing the chill in relations fuelled by China’s support of Pakistan’s opposition to India axing the autonomy of Kashmir
- Amid the territorial issues, economic cooperation remains a priority, with the RCEP free-trade deal and India’s trade deficit among key concerns
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China’s President Xi Jinping on Friday arrived to a lavish welcome in the southern Indian city of Chennai for his second informal summit with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, against a backdrop of strained ties stemming from trade tensions and border disputes.
Xi was treated to a performance showcasing the local Tamil traditional dance forms on the runway.
Political watchers on both sides say the meeting – which takes place in Mamallapuram, a coastal town about 50km south of Chennai – is aimed at thawing a chill in relations that has been fuelled by China supporting Pakistan’s opposition to India’s move to strip the Kashmir region of its autonomy. Both New Delhi and Islamabad claim Kashmir in full.
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Like the first informal summit held last year in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, officials from both sides said there will not be a fixed agenda.
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Xi’s visit will last just under 24 hours, and he is expected to spend a total of six hours with Modi. Three of these hours will be on Friday, when the two leaders will watch cultural performances and have a ceremonial dinner, and the other three will be for actual talks on Saturday.
Ahead of Xi’s arrival, police detained the chief of the Tibetan Youth Congress, Gonpo Dhondup, and 11 Tibetan students in several locations, including at the airport and a highway leading to the summit venue.
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