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Narendra Modi, Xi Jinping meet in Wuhan; Indian PM hopes for another ‘informal summit’ in India in 2019
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese president Xi Jinping in Wuhan, the favourite holiday spot of revolutionary Chinese leader Mao Zedong, for talks that are being seen as an effort by the neighbours to rebuild ties after months of tension
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday invited Chinese President Xi Jinping for an informal summit to India in 2019, saying such talks should become a tradition between the two countries.
“I’ll be happy if, in 2019, we can have such an informal summit in India,” Modi was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. (Live updates)
President Xi said the two countries have established closer partnership and made positive progress in recent years. “In the past five years, we have achieved a lot. We have met each other on many occasions,” he said.
The Chinese president said he believes in the future and they could meet in a format like this from time to time.
“I look forward to in-depth communication with your excellency, and ensure we can build common understanding and help to take the China-India relationship to the next level,” he said.
Modi arrived in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, the favourite holiday spot of revolutionary Chinese leader Mao Zedong, earlier in the day for talks that are being seen as an effort by the neighbours to rebuild ties after months of tension. Ties between India and China were hit by the 73-day-long Doklam standoff last year.
Prime Minister Modi hailed their centuries-old ties and told Xi that the two countries have a “big opportunity” to work together for the benefit of their people and the world.
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They will resume their one-on-one interaction on Saturday at 10am local time with walks by the lakeside, boat ride and wind up their talks over lunch.
This Modi’s visit to China after he came to power in 2014 and he is again due to visit the country again in June to take part in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit to be held at Qingdao city.
(With PTI inputs)
