Chinese Vice Minister visits India With Eye on Xi’s upcoming trip

NEW DELHI: Chinese vice foreign minister Luo Zhaohui visited Delhi this week with an eye on preparations for President Xi Jinping’s visit to India for the second edition of the informal summit scheduled on October 11-12 in Mahabalipuram amid Beijing’s strong statements on Kashmir issue since August 5.

The agenda of Luo’s meeting was to finalise agenda for Xi’s visit next week to hold the second informal summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, officials said. While neither India nor China announced dates for the summit, ET has learnt that it will be held from October 11-12.

Xi and Modi are also expected to visit historical ruins of the Pallava dynasty in Mahabalipuram. Pallavas had shared strong connection with the monarchy in China almost 1,700 years ago.


Luo was Chinese envoy to India before he was appointed vice foreign minister in May. He played a key role in the first informal summit held in Wuhan in April 2018.

ET had earlier reported that Modi and Xi will hope to focus on keeping Line of Actual Control stable and bringing balance in their trade ties when they meet for second edition of the informal summit. The summit could help plan next stage in boundary dispute resolution and measures to export additional Indian products to China to reduce huge trade deficit, ET had reported.

The two leaders will review progress since the Wuhan Summit, which has enabled to keep partnership stable across the sectors, according to persons familiar with the matter. The two leaders could also focus on celebrations to be held in 2020 on the occasion of 70 years of creation of diplomatic ties.