PM Modi to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in May to resolve border issues

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will have an “outcome-driven” visit to China in May, and both the PM and Chinese President Xi Jinping are ready to discuss out-of-the-box ideas to resolve border disputes, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said on Sunday.

Swaraj also suggested a framework for cooperation between New Delhi and Beijing, including on making it easier for Chinese companies to do business in India and vice versa. She also said alternate route for Mansarovar will open this June allowing entry to five batches of 50 pilgrims each.

Swaraj is currently in China on a four-day visit, accompanied by newly appointed Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar. She will be meeting her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi as well as Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov over the next few days in what is being seen as a balancing act by the government after US President Barack Obama’s India visit.

Obama’s visit was viewed as an effort in forging a new partnership in the Asia-Pacific region to counterbalance China. Swaraj is expected to call on President Xi Jinping on Tuesday.

Addressing a Sino-Indian media forum in Beijing, Swaraj proposed a six-point template to boost bilateral ties. They are: an action-oriented approach; broad-base bilateral engagement; convergence of common, regional and global interests; fulfillment of common aspirations to usher in an ‘Asian century’,” according to a copy of her speech posted on the foreign ministry website.