Xi Jinping visits India

FOREIGN VISIT// On a three-day visit to India, Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in the country to discuss trade, investment and look at resolving border disputes that have marred the relationship between the two countries for decades. Addressing a media briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said, “We can say President Xi’s visit to India has removed some of the suspicions of two countries and pushed bilateral relations to a new age.” The Chinese President arrived in Gujarat on the first leg of his trip. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks and discussions with Xi and discussions on setting up Chinese industrial parks were finalized, and a sister city pact between Guangzhou in China and Ahmedabad was also signed, along with a deal of setting up an industrial part in the state. In total, they signed 12 MoUs, including cooperation in the railway sector.

Xi also paid a visit to Mahatma Gandhi’s Sabarmati Ashram and tried his hand at the charkha. However, foreign policy took centrestage in Delhi and the two heads of state discussed boundary dispute and transgressions by Chinese troops.