India-China summit: Xi Jinping to arrive in Mahabalipuram today

New Delhi After assuring Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan that China is paying close attention to Kashmir Chinese President Xi Jinping is arriving in India for his second informal summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mahabalipuram town of Tamil NaduXi will be accompanied by Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Politburo members on his visit to India From the Indian side National Security Advisor NSA Ajit Doval and EAM S Jaishankar will accompany the Prime MinisterThe historic coastal town of Mahabalipuram will provide the setting for the meeting between Modi and Xi as the two leaders will have teteatete as also delegationlevel talks to strengthen bilateral tiesThe visit comes at a time when China has openly extended its support to Pakistan in raising the matter of abrogation of Article 370 China had criticised Indias decision on Kashmir and its foreign minister raised it at the UN General Assembly last monthChina has used every possible opportunity to criticise India over the Kashmir issue India has maintained that the abrogation of Article 370 is an internal matter of IndiaOn Wednesday a joint statement following the meeting between Xi and Khan in Beijing said that China is paying close attention to the current situation in Jammu amp Kashmir and that the matter should be properly and peacefully resolved based on the UN Charter relevant UN Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreementsA report by Xinhua said that Xi told Khan during the meeting that China was paying close attention to the Kashmir situation and the facts are clearIndia took exception to references concerning Kashmir following talks between Xi and Khan and said it is not for other countries to comment on internal affairs of IndiaThe forthcoming Chennai Informal Summit will provide an opportunity to the Chinese President and PM Modi to continue their discussions on overarching issues of bilateral regional and global importance and to exchange views on deepening IndiaChina Closer Development Partnership the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement This summit will mostly be similar to the first held on April 2018 in Wuhan ChinaXi will arrive at the Chennai International Airport on Friday afternoon while the Indian Prime Minister will reach the city shortly before noon The two leaders will meet in Mahabalipuram in the evening and visit some UNESCO world heritage sitesThey will have guided tour of three monuments Arjunas penance an intricately carved ancient sculpture Krishnas Butter Ball a big round boulder perched on a slope and Pancha Rathas a five chariots monument complexThe historical city also has a China connection and has had ancient maritime links with the country during the Pallava dynastyMahabalipuram was a major port city in the 7th century and served as a gateway for import and export of goods from and to South IndiaA cultural programme will be organised in honour of the visiting leader at the Shore Temple on Friday evening Modi will then host the Chinese President for dinnerOn Saturday Modi and Xi will have onetoone meeting followed by delegationlevel talksNo Memorandum of Understandings MoUs agreements would be signed or joint communique issuedGovernment sources had earlier told ANI that the structure of informal meeting between the two leaders would be similar to the first informal summit between the two leaders in April last year in WuhanThe objective of the meeting is likely to be the exchange of views on regional and global issues finding a broad pathway on bilateral relations and discussing ways to build better connections between the two countriesIssues pertaining to trade increased market access for products like soybean and nonbasmati rice as well as terrorism sourcing financing and origins of terror are expected to come up during the talksShortly before Xis departure for Nepal Modi will host lunch in honour of the Chinese President on Saturday afternoonThis is not the first time that the Prime Minister is hosting Xi outside the national capital In 2014 Modi had welcomed the Chinese President at AhmedabadCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates