Modi treats Xi to Gujarati hospitality as Ladakh stand off continues

Ahmedabad: India and China today signed three-Gujarat specific pacts shortly after Chinese President Xi Jinping commenced his three-day visit to the country from the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The state authorities rolled out the red carpet as Xi, the first top 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 here. Giant billboards in Mandarin, Gujarati and English were put up at various places here to welcome him.

Xi’s three-day visit is aimed at ramping up trade and investments, besides having discussions on substantive issues including the contentious border dispute. It also coincides with Modi’s 64th birthday today.

Modi and Xi, who met for a while, will hold extensive talks in Delhi tomorrow.

The three MoUs were signed in the presence of Modi and Xi after the Chinese leader and his wife Peng Liyuan, dressed in a pale pink knee-length dress, were welcomed by the Prime Minister at the entrance of the Hyatt Hotel. Modi gave floral bouquets to the couple.

The choice of Gujarat as Xi’s first stop in India marks a departure from protocol and many see it as a sign of warm relations between the two leaders. When the couple landed at the Ahmedabad airport, apart from a guard of honour, there was a traditional Gujarati dance.

The MoUs 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.

These MoUs will facilitate exchange of ideas and services between Gujarat and China, officials said.

Besides Modi and Xi, Chief Minister Anandi Patel and her Cabinet colleagues, members of Chinese delegation and several top businessmen from the state were present at the event.

Modi also accompanied Xi to the tranquil Sabarmati Ashram on Ahmedabad’s Ashram road and explained its historical significance to the Chinese leader. The Ashram was one of the homes of Mahatma Gandhi.

They later took a walk down the Sabarmati riverfront which was a riot of colour with the visiting dignitaries treated to a mix of Gujarati tradition and culture through dance forms including the famous garba dance.

Xi was received by Modi and Gujarat Chief Minister Anandi Patel on the gates of tranquil Sabarmati Ashram, located in the Sabarmati suburb adjoining the Ashram Road, on the banks of river Sabarmati where Modi gifted Xi a copy of the Gita written in Chinese language.

Modi and Patel offered cotton garlands to Xi and accompanied him to different rooms in the ashram which was home of the Mahatma for about 12 years and his wife Kasturba Gandhi.

Later, Xi paid homage to an idol of Gandhi there. Modi also explained Gandhi’s writings in Hindi and English, to the Chinese President on the occasion.

According to the trustees of Sabarmati Ashram, Xi wrote in Chinese in the visitors’ book. Xi also visited Gandhi’s personal room ‘Hridayakunj’ and offered a cotton garland to Gandhi’s picture.

Modi also presented mementos, including books and a painting on Gandhi, to Xi on the occasion.

“The Sabarmati Ashram Trust presented a replica of the charkha, originally used by Gandhi during his stay in Yervada jail near Pune, to the Chinese President. Xi was also given a copy of the original certificate, given to Gandhi by the people of Chinese origin in South Africa in 1915,” said trustee of the Ashram Kartikeya Sarabhai.

Chinese troops make incursion bid in Ladakh

Chinese army today reportedly made a fresh incursion in Chumar area and refused to return even as a flag-meeting between the two sides is believed to have made no headway in breaking the deadlock.

Surprisingly, the move came barely few hours ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s arrival in India on a state visit. India also rushed some more troops in the area and both sides were indulging in repeated banner drill, the sources said.

Official sources said that some of the Chinese troops had returned yesterday and it was generally expected that the others would also retreat to their side of the perceived Line of Actual Control (LAC).

However, as many as 100 more soldiers of Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) arrived from a hillock of Chumar area and strengthened its numbers to nearly 350, the sources said.

A Brigadier-level flag meeting, second within a week, was held in Chushul, where the issue of intrusion of Chinese troops in Chumar and civilian intrusion in the Demchok area was discussed, the sources said.

The sources said it was believed that no breakthrough was achieved and the two sides may be meeting again shortly.

PTI