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
Xi was treated to a performance showcasing the local Tamil traditional dance forms on the runway.
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.
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.
“We want freedom,” shouted Dhondup, as he was wrestled away by six policemen in a video shared by the Tibetan Youth Congress. He was pushed into an auto-rickshaw and taken away by police.
“Landed in Chennai. I am pleased to be in the great state of Tamil Nadu, known for its great culture and hospitality,” he said. “It’s gratifying that Tamil Nadu is hosting President Xi Jinping. I hope this informal meeting will further strengthen India-China relations.”
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India may also discuss building tighter connectivity links, namely through the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) economic corridor.
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According to analysts, all these will be easier said than done.
“The key issues likely to occupy centre stage include assessing the progress made since the Wuhan summit, and stocktaking trade issues at all levels,” said Sana Hashmi, a China analyst with the Perth-based think tank Future Directions International.
Yet, before the two sides can make substantial headway into these issues, both sides will want to put behind the bugbears that have troubled the relationship.
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Amid these concerns, both sides will hope that the summit will lead to progress on core issues.
“One single dialogue or a bunch of dialogues cannot resolve all the outstanding problems between India and China. What these dialogues are meant to do is smoothen the process of communication; Wuhan did the same,” said Hashmi.
“Xi will have an in-depth communication with Modi on issues that have overall, long-term and strategic significance on bilateral relations, set the tune and guide the direction for future development of the ties,” Chinese state media quoted Vice Foreign Minister Luo Zhaohui as saying.
A MEANINGFUL VENUE
The choice of Mamallapuram, a southern coastal town popular among tourists, was a curious, yet natural one, said sources on the Indian side.
The former trading centre used to be ruled by Pallavas, a powerful fourth-century dynasty that first established trading relations with China.
“Such historic ties between India and China make the summit’s location in Mamallapuram apt,” Tamil Nadu chief minister EK Palaniswami said on Friday.
Apart from the ancient links, the town also saw a more recent Chinese connection. Zhou Enlai, the first premier of China, came to the town as part of his India trip in 1956, at a time when bilateral ties were on the upswing.
After visiting the state-owned Integral Coach Factory, which made railway coaches, Zhou praised the establishment. “This is a modern coach factory. It is worthwhile for the Chinese to come and learn. This factory is well-built and well-organised. The technology and training given are very good,” he wrote in its guest register.
Modi’s choice of location may also have a domestic angle. The prime minister and his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have struggled to make inroads into southern India. Tamil Nadu state has often seen intense protests against Modi and his government’s policies.
With the high-profile summit, the state has been allowed to shine with a grand display of hospitality, colour and pomp. Chennai’s airport, where Xi’s aircraft landed, has been decorated with traditional Tamil designs and floral patterns. Streets in town have been lined with sculptures of Buddha and Hindu gods and goddesses, indicative of the town’s sculpting expertise.
Xi’s 50km journey from his hotel in Chennai to Mamallapuram would be filled with cultural performances along the way.
“Thousands of school students as well as performers will be lined up along the route to receive President Xi when he drives to Mamallapuram. At select spots along the route, we will have performances of traditional Tamilian dance forms like Karakattam,” said the BJP’s Tamil Nadu spokesperson KT Raghavan ahead of Xi’s arrival.
When Xi arrives in Mamallapuram, the leaders are scheduled to take in the festive atmosphere with a walk through town, before enjoying a traditional Tamil dance performance and heading to a ceremonial dinner.
With the optics now firmly in place, the town looks to strengthen its Chinese connection some more over the next two days.
Additional reporting by Reuters
