Chinese President Xi's India visit: Meeting between Xi and Modi a courtesy discussion, says MEA

AHMEDABAD: The brief talk between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, on the first day of his India visit here today, was a "courtesy discussion" and a formal summit meeting between the two leaders will be held in Delhi tomorrow, according to Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

"This is just a get-together. No formal talks were held. He (Modi) has welcomed him (Xi) as his guest, has appreciated his (Xi's) coming here in Ahmedabad and thanked him (Xi)," MEA Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin told PTI.

"It was just a courtesy discussion and formal talks will be held tomorrow in Delhi," he said in response to a query on the issues discussed between Modi and Xi during their brief one-to-one talk before signing of three MoUs between State of Gujarat and China.

The Chinese President, accompanied by his wife Peng Liyuan, started his three-day India visit from Ahmedabad today and has left to Delhi late in the evening.

State authorities rolled out the red carpet as Xi, the first Chinese leader to visit Gujarat, was given a warm welcome after an Air China special aircraft carrying him and his delegation landed at the airport in the afternoon where he was accorded a police guard of honour.

Giant billboards in Mandarin, Gujarati and English were put up at various places here to welcome the Chinese leader.

The three pacts signed today include making Guangzhou city in China and Ahmedabad as sister cities, setting up of industrial parks in this state and an agreement between Guangdong province and the Gujarat government for development of cultural and social ties between the two provinces, officials said.

The agreement, aimed at developing industrial parks, was signed between China Development Bank (CDB) and Industrial Extension Bureau (iNDEXTb) of Gujarat Government. It envisages promoting the bilateral trade and setting up of industrial parks in the state, especially for electronics and electrical goods.

While an agreement was signed between Guangdong province and Gujarat government for development of cultural and social ties between the two provinces, another MoU was inked between Guangzhou city and Ahmedabad, to make them sister cities.