China is keen on President Xi Jinping visiting Gujarat when he arrives in India next month on his first visit to the country since taking over as President last year. While both sides are currently in consultations over the schedule and details of the visit — which is set to take place in the third week of September — it is understood that Gujarat is one of the destinations under consideration for the Chinese President.
A visit by Mr. Xi to Gujarat will hold special symbolism for several reasons. For China, it will reinforce the government’s close relations with Prime Minister Narendra Modi — as well as Beijing’s support to the State — stretching back over the past decade, when Mr. Modi made several visits to China as Gujarat Chief Minister at a time when his ties with the West were strained.
