PM Modi, Xi Jinping to hold 'informal summit' on October 12 in Varanasi

Chinese president Xi Jinping is set to visit India later this year in October. PM Modi and Xi Jinping will hold second 'informal summit' at Varanasi on October 12, reports The Hindu. Earlier in April 2018, the first informal meet had taken place in Wuhan. It is expected that both leaders will take a boat ride in ancient city of Varanasi. The meeting marks the completion of 70 years of diplomatic relations between India and China.

Before the Varanasi meeting, external affairs minister S Jaishankar is likely to visit Beijing to hold a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang-Yi. Boundary issue, culture, people to people contact and detailing of PM Modi and Jinping’s meeting at Varanasi are likely to be on the agenda of talks between both the foreign ministers.

Confirming Xi’s visit to India foreign secretary Vijay Keshav Gokhale said, "PM Modi invited Xi (to India) for the next informal summit. Xi confirmed his readiness to visit India this year and that both sides should begin preparations".

In June this year, PM Modi and Jinping met on the sidelines of SCO Summit is Bishkek. Calling his meeting with Jinping ‘extremely fruitful’ PM Modi had said, ‘We shall continue working together to improve economic and cultural ties between our nations.’ Xi reciprocated Modi’s gesture as he said, “China is ready to work with India to continuously advance the closer development partnership between the two countries.”

Moreover, China has for long been derailing India’s efforts to become a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group which widened the rift between both the countries. India, on the other hand, has been apprehensive of China’s Belt and Road initiative. These can be the major areas of discussion when both leaders hold talks later this year. The first informal summit in Wuhan provided the breakthrough in Sino-India relations after standoff in Doklam.