PM Modi's warm welcome to China's President Xi Jinping ahead of Summit

PM Narendra Modi tweeted welcoming Chinese President Xi Jinping to India in Tamil Nadu's Chennai. Chinese President Xi Jinping landed at Chennai airport on Friday. PM Modi's Twitter account wrote in Mandarin welcoming the Xi Jinping. 'Welcome to India, President Xi Jinping!' he said.

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Grand Reception for Xi Jinping

The Press Information Bureau also tweeted a video of the welcome President Xi Jinping received at the Chennai airport. President Jinping descended down the stairs to be received a delegation including AIADMK leaders. He was accosted by them to a Bharatnatyam dance performance. Watch the video below to see the grand reception of the Chinese President.

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Events to be held during Xi Jinping's visit

The schedule for Day 1 of the summit between PM Modi and President Xi Jinping begins in the evening and extends till dinner. The summit will begin at 5 pm when both, PM Modi and the Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend a guided tour to three of the monuments at Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram. Next, both the leaders will be attending a cultural program from 6 to 6:30 pm at Shore Temple. Following that, both PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will be having a private dinner. 

On Day 2 of the summit, PM Modi will have a tete-e-tete with Chinese President Xi Jinping at 10 am. This will be followed by India and China delegation-level talks at 10:50 am in the morning. The leaders will then proceed for, yet another meal hosted by India in the honour of Chinese President Xi Jinping. 

READ | PM Modi arrives in Chennai, says 'gladdened to see TN host Xi Jinping'

Significance of the Summit

The second informal summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be held at Mamallapuram near Chennai on October 11 and October 12. The previous Wuhan summit has happened against the backdrop of India and China standoff on the Doklam issue in 2017. It had gone a long way to defusing the situation. Ahead of the Mamallapuram meeting, China has also made statements towards making ties more harmonious.

READ | Modi-Xi Summit: Significance of Mamallapuram meet to China