China President Xi Jinping's India visit will strengthen ties: Narendra Modi; talks of Buddhism bond

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said he was looking forward to welcoming Chinese President Xi Jinping in Ahmedabad on September 17 and was sure that his visit will strengthen ties between India and China, which share a strong bond of Buddhism.

Ahead of Xi's visit, Modi posted various slides depicting Gujarat's rich Buddhist heritage including his birthplace Vadnagar's excavations on social media 'Twitter'.

"Ashokan Edict in Junagadh shows Samrat Ashok's reverence towards Buddhism & focuses on social & moral precepts," said one tweet while the other one read, "The place where I was born, Vadnagar too has a rich Buddhist influence including a Monastery."

He also noted that well known Chinese traveller Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang) noted the presence of Buddhist monasteries, monks in parts of Gujarat.

Modi will host a private dinner for Xi on Sabarmati riverfront in Ahmedabad when he begins his India visit.

According to official sources, the private dinner will be attended by limited number of guests from each side. There will be five persons from each side at the dinner which will not be very ostentatious, they said.

The Sabarmati riverfront was selected as a venue for the dinner as President Xi will be visiting Mahatma Gandhi's Sabarmati Ashram near it.