Narendra Modi-Xi Jinping summit Day 2 | As it happened

The two leaders met at Mamallapuram for day two of the India-China informal summit

October 12, 2019 09:07 am | Updated October 13, 2019 12:13 am IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and China's President Xi Jinping (2nd L) during the delegation-level talks in Mamallapuram on the outskirts of Chennai on Saturday, October 12, 2019.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and China's President Xi Jinping (2nd L) during the delegation-level talks in Mamallapuram on the outskirts of Chennai on Saturday, October 12, 2019.

The second 'informal' summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping is underway in Mamallapuram on Saturday, October 12, 2019. The two leaders met on Friday vowed to work together in facing the challenges of radicalisation and terrorism in India and China during a two-and-half hour “open and cordial” one-on-one discussion over dinner at the magnificent Shore temple complex in the ancient coastal town.

Also read | All you want to know about day one of Modi-Xi summit

 

6 p.m.

India, China to set up high-level economic, trade dialogue mechanism

India and China on Saturday agreed to set up a high-level economic and trade dialogue mechanism to go into trade, investment and services.

The mechanism would include Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and China’s Vice-Premier Hu Chunhua. This was one of the outcomes of the two-day second India-China “informal summit” between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and China’s President Xi Jinping that concluded in Kovalam, about 30 km from Chennai.

The development assumed importance in the light of India expressing concerns repeatedly over its trade deficit of about $50 billion with China in the bilateral trade “Trade deficit is not economically sustainable and it is also something that is sensitive to the domestic industry [of India],” Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said.

 

4.30 pm

Modi given warm send off by T.N.

Mr. Modi left for the national capital after concluding his second informal summit with Mr. Jinping, which he said "will add great momentum" to bilateral ties. The Prime Minister was given a warm send off by Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam and senior leaders of the State unit of the BJP at the airport. He left for Delhi by an Indian Air Force aircraft. Earlier, Mr. Modi arrived here from Fisherman's Cove sea side resort at Kovalam, off Mamallapuram by a chopper. BJP supporters, who lined up on both sides of the road from Kovalam to the helipad at Thiruvidanthai near Mamallapuram raised "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and "Vande Mataram" slogans and a smiling Mr. Modi reciprocated by waving at them. The general public too had gathered to greet the Prime Minister. The Prime Minsiter in his twitter handle said he and the Chinese President had productive deliberations on improving bilateral ties as the second informal meet between the two leaders concluded at nearby Mamallapuram. "I thank President Xi Jinping for coming to India for our second Informal Summit. The #ChennaiConnect will add great momentum to India-China relations. This will benefit the people of our nations and the world," he said.

3.20 pm

Sister-state relationship to be established between Tamil Nadu and Fujian Province

The Ministry of External Affairs has said the Special Representatives will continue their efforts to arrive at a mutually-agreed framework on issues including boundary question for a “fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement.”

In a media briefing, the MEA said the year 2020 will be designated  as Year of India-China Cultural and People to People Exchanges. As many as 70 activities including a conference on a ship voyage that will trace the historical connect between the two civilisations, will be planned.

Sister-state relationship will be established between Tamil Nadu and Fujian Province. Possibility for establishing an academy to study links between Mamallapuram and Fujian province will also be explored.

3.00 pm

Modi gifts Xi large portrait woven in silk

Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted Chinese President Xi Jinping a hand-woven portrait in fine red silk of the latter.  The portrait was created by weavers of Sri Ramalinga Sowdambigai Handloom Weavers Co-operative Society in Sirumugaipudur in Coimbatore district.

 

2.40 pm

'Kashmir not discussed'

Replying to a query, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said Kashmir issue was not raised and discussed at the informal summit.

Both Xi and Modi said the two countries need to look to the future. The two leaders agreed that both countries should work together to deal with the challenge of terrorism, Gokhale said.

2.00 pm

Xi informed China is ready to take concrete measures to reduce trade deficit, says Foreign Secretary

Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale has said Chinese President is ready to take concrete measures to reduce trade deficit.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday agreed to set up a new mechanism for matters relating to trade and investment and felt the two countries should cooperate on important regional and global issues.

Gokhale said a new mechanism will be set up for issues relating to trade and investment.

President Xi has assured that India’s concerns over Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will be discussed, he said.

Both Modi and Xi emphasised on importance of having rules-based global trading system, he said, both leaders felt that the two countries should cooperate on important regional and global issues

Xi also talked about the need for enhancing defence cooperation, Gokhale said.

1.50 pm

Chinese President Xi Jinping has left Chennai ending his two-day visit. Mr. Xi's next stopover is Nepal.

 

Air China aircraft ready to take off from Chennai airport.

Air China aircraft ready to take off from Chennai airport.

Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Chief Minister K Palaniswami, Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal gave a warm send off to the Chinese premier.

Both the Governor and Chief Minister briefly conversed with the visiting dignitary at the airport.

12.20 pm

'Chennai vision will begin a new age'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Chinese President Xi Jinping, at Fisherman's Cove in Kovalam near Mamallapuram , Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Chinese President Xi Jinping, at Fisherman's Cove in Kovalam near Mamallapuram , Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019.

 

The Prime Minister says in future the two countries will be inspired to make more efforts to use the opportunities.

"At the Chennai summit so far we have had important discussions on bilateral and global matters. The Wuhan spirit has given our relations new momentum and trust. Today, our Chennai vision will begin a new age in relations between our two countries", Mr. Modi says.

12.15

Will not let differences become disputes: PM

"Last year because of our informal summit in Wuhan, our relations saw increased stability and fresh momentum. Strategic communication between us has grown. We had decided that we would prudently manage our differences and not let them become disputes,  be sensitive to each other's concerns, and be a reason for peace and stability in the world", the Prime Minister says without mentioning the Doklam crisis.

12.10 pm

Modi greets People's Republic of China

PM Modi speaks: "Your excellency! Congratulations on completing 70 years of the PRC (People's Republic of China).

"Tamil Nadu state and ancient city Chennai have been witness to centuries of India-China cultural and trade ties. I am happy that I received the honour of introducing you to some of our cultural treasures here. For much of the past 2000 years India and China have been major economic powers in the world. We are reclaiming that position together in this decade".

12.05 pm

Modi begins opening remarks with 'Vanakkam'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins with opening remarks at the summit with 'Vanakkam' in Tamil. "I welcome our guests in the ancient Tamil language in the way that is our tradition", he says.

10.25 am

 

PM Modi, President Xi meet in Fisherman's Cove

Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Mamallapuram beach

Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Mamallapuram beach

 

Prime Minister Modi welcomed President Xi at the Fisherman's Cove in Mamallapuram for talks on the second day of second informal India-China summit. The two leaders and their officials are expected to discuss on the bilateral trade and investments.

 

On the trade side, the discussions were expected to be centred around the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and also Chinese industries requirements for making investments in India.

The bilateral trade between India and China is about $87 billion. The trade deficit is on India’s side.

Also read | Modi-Xi talks: Making a friend of the neighbour

 

9.50 am

President Xi leaves for Mamallapuram

Chinese President Xi Jinping leaves for Mamallapuram to meet PM Modi. He is travelling in a specially flown in Hongqi limousine.

While Modi, who landed in Chennai earlier, flew to Mamallapuram by helicopter, Mr. Xi covered the 57-km journey to Mamallapuram from Chennai by road instead of a helicopter as Chinese leaders, as matter of policy, shun travel by choppers.

Hongqi is a luxury Chinese car used by leaders of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) from the time of its founder Mao Zedong. In Chinese,  hongqi  means the red flag.

 

9.20 am

PM Modi shares photos of early morning walk along Mamallapuram beach

Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Mamallapuram beach on October 12, 2019

Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Mamallapuram beach on October 12, 2019

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to share pictures of his morning walk along the scenic Mamallapuram beach.

He also shared a short video of him plogging there. Plogging, a practice popularised in the Scandinavian countries as an environment-conscious measure, refers to the practice of picking up litter while jogging .

"Plogging at a beach in Mamallapuram this morning. It lasted for over 30 minutes," reads a message from PM Modi's handle.

"Also handed over my ‘collection’ to Jeyaraj, who is a part of the hotel staff. Let us ensure our public places are clean and tidy! Let us also ensure we remain fit and healthy," it read.

 

 

 

8.50 am

 

Traffic is closed around ITC Grand Chola in Guindy as Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to leave the hotel to Mamallapuram.

According to the schedule, President Xi will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Taj Fisherman’s Cove for tea and engage in delegation level talks. The two leaders are also expected to have lunch together before winding up the summit.

 

 

Camaraderie marks start of Modi-Xi ‘informal summit'

The second “informal summit” between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and China’s President Xi Jinping began on Friday at Mamallapuram, a town famously associated with Pallava rulers, with the two leaders spending the evening together for a few hours and getting a glimpse of the blend of south Indian art and culture.

In April 2018, the first summit took place in Wuhan in the wake of the Doklam crisis. The present meeting is being held in the midst of China reacting strongly to the Indian government’s decision on Article 370 and bifurcation of Jammu & Kashmir.

 

 

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