Narendra Modi-Xi Jinping informal summit: Live updates

PM Modi, President Xi leave after attending cultural program at Shore Temple

Prime Minister Narendra Modi & Chinese President Xi Jinping leave after attending a cultural program at the Shore Temple in Mamallapuram.

Traditional South Indian spread for dinner

A traditional south Indian spread, including the trademark sambhar, was part of the menu for Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping for dinner. The two leaders will be treated to a sumptuous dinner, comprising sambhar, a mouthwatering south Indian recipe made of lentils, besides other delicacies.

‘Arachu vitta Sambhar’, prepared from grounded lentils, certain spices and coconut to make it that much tastier was touted to be the key attraction in the menu. The meal will include ‘thakkali rasam,’ made of tomato and ‘imli’ and ‘kadalai (chick pea, generally) korma’, besides halwa as the premier dessert. Further, the Chinese President is also likely to be treated with select non-vegetarian delicacies.

PM gifts Nachiarkoil -Branched Annam Lamp and Thanjavur Painting-Dancing Saraswathi to President Xi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has gifted Nachiarkoil -Branched Annam Lamp and Thanjavur Painting-Dancing Saraswathi to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

PM Modi tweets: India says Swagatam to President Xi Jinping!

Modi, President Xi enjoy cultural programme at the Shore temple

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping attended a cultural program at the Shore Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

PM Modi, Xi visit sea-facing Shore Temple

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping are attending a cultural performance by Kalakshetra at Mamallapuram’s Shore Temple.

Modi, Xi enjoy coconut water

Modi and Xi Jinping enjoyed fresh coconut water while catching their breaths at the magnificent Panch Rathas complex in the coastal city of Mamallapuram. The leaders had previously taken a tour of the iconic relief structure Arjuna’s Penance, an intricately carved ancient sculpture dating back to the Pallava dynasty and Krishna’s Butter Ball – a big round boulder perched on a slope.

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PM Modi receives Xi Jinping at Mamallapuram

Chennai: Chinese President Xi Jinping was treated to Tamil cultural performances by folk dancers and Bharatanatyam artistes while scores of children greeted him by waving Indian and Chinese flags as he arrived here and later drove to seaside resort town of Mamallapuram Friday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who reached Mamallapuram ahead of Xi by a chopper, received the Chinese leader at Arjuna’s penance monument.

Attired in Tamil traditional ‘veshti’ (dhoti), angavastram (a shawl), and a shirt, the Prime Minister shook hands with Xi as the two leaders exchanged pleasantries.

Xi Jinping arrives in Chennai, accorded grand welcome

Mamallapuram (TN): Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Chennai to a grand welcome Friday, a visit that comes soon after the recent episode of turbulence in bilateral ties over India’s decision to withdraw Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and reorganise the state into two Union Territories.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E K Palaniswami, Governor Banwarilal Purohit and Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Assembly P Dhanapal welcomed the Chinese leader at the airport. A brief cultural ceremony was organised to welcome the visiting leader.

A large number of artistes lined up at the airport waving colourful flags, beating drums and dancing to traditional music to welcome the Xi Jinping.

The Chinese President is accompanied by Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi. Both are scheduled to hold separate talks with their Indian counterparts – S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval.

Modi, Xi expected to attempt ways to fashion re-balance in ties

Mamallapuram: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will accord a warm welcome to Chinese President Xi Jinping when he arrives in this coastal town Friday for an informal summit during which the two leaders are expected to attempt a strategic re-balancing in bilateral ties, strained by a hardline approach on the Kashmir issue from both sides.

Modi and Xi Jinping will hold talks at the 7th century Shore Temple complex overlooking the Bay of Bengal in an informal setting in the evening without aides or any agenda with a focus on charting a new roadmap for the overall expansion of ties.

External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said on Twitter that the two leaders will exchange views on a range of subjects ‘unrestricted by a set agenda’.

Officials said Xi will arrive at Chennai airport around 2.00pm and then head off to a luxury hotel. At 5.00pm, Modi will take Xi Jinping to three iconic monuments of Mamallapuram – Arjuna’s Penance, Panch Rathas and the Shore temple. The two leaders will witness a cultural programme at the temple complex.

Saturday, the two leaders will have an one-on-one meeting at the Fisherman’s Cove resort which will be followed up by delegation-level talks. After the talks, Modi will host a lunch for Xi, and the Chinese leader will leave for Chennai airport at 12.45 pm, they said.

5 Tibetans detained for trying to stage protest

Chennai: Five suspected Tibetans were detained by the police here Friday for allegedly trying to stage a protest outside the hotel where Chinese President Xi Jinping is slated to stay during his two-day visit here. The Chinese President is slated to arrive later in the day to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their second informal summit at Mamallapuram.

Police whisked away a person with Tibetan flag who attempted to stage a sudden protest and were seen restraining him from raising any slogans. He was whisked away in an autorickshaw by some police personnel even as four others were removed in a police vehicle.

Modi arrives in Chennai, reaches Mamallapuram by helicopter

Chennai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived here Friday to attend the second informal meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He wished the summit will further strengthen ties between India and China.

Narendra Modi arrived by a special flight from Delhi and was received by Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit and Chief Minister K Palaniswami among others.

“Landed in Chennai. I am happy to be in the great land of Tamil Nadu, known for its wonderful culture and hospitality,” Modi said in tweets in English, Tamil and Chinese.

“It is gladdening that Tamil Nadu will host President Xi Jinping. May this Informal Summit further strengthen ties between India and China,” Modi added.

The Prime Minister later proceeded to the coastal town of Mamallapuram, about 50 km from here, which will host the two high-profile leaders, by a helicopter.

Modi was accorded a warm reception at Mamallapuram by senior State Ministers including D Jayakumar and officials. He then left by road to the nearby hotel where he would be staying.

The Chinese city of Wuhan had hosted the first informal summit between Modi and Xi Jinping last year.