PM Modi and Chinese President Xi during a boat ride in East Lake in Wuhan
Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his two-day informal summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the central Chinese city of Wuhan on Saturday. Though no official agreements were inked, the prime minister held one-on-one talks with Xi which is being seen as an effort by India and China to rebuild trust and improve ties that were hit by the 73-day-long Dokalam standoff last year.
The two leaders exchanged views on "solidifying" the India-China relationship and decided to issue strategic guidance to their respective militaries to strengthen communications and to build trust and understanding.
Both the leaders recognised terrorism as common threat and committed to cooperate further on counter terrorism. Modi also offered to host the next informal summit with Xi in India next year, a proposal which elicited a positive response from the Chinese president.
The two leaders began their informal meetings way back in 2014 when Xi was hosted by Modi at the Sabarmati Ashram of Mahatma Gandhi in Gujarat. They have met and interacted with each other in about a dozen international meetings since then.
This is the fourth visit of Modi to China after he came to power in 2014. He is again due to visit China to take part in the SCO summit to be held at Qingdao city on June 9-10.
Modi was seen off by Chinese Vice Foreign Minster, Kong Xuanyou and Chinese Ambassador to India, Luo Zhaohui and other officials.
Here are seven key takeaways from the summit:
1. Reducing border tensions
In the light of the tense face-off between the Indian and Chinese troops at Doklam last year, Prime Minister Modi and President Xi underlined the importance of maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border region'. Both the leaders also agreed to issue a strategic guidance to their respective militaries to strengthen communication in order to build mutual cooperation.
2. Willing to engage in dialogue to preempt further conflict
Both the leaders also agreed to create a broad platform of dialogue and discussion through which contentious matters can be addressed and resolved before they escalate.
3. Crackdown on terror
Both Prime Minister Modi and President Xi have recognised the common threat posed by terrorism and vowed to cooperate further on counter-terrorism.
4. Strengthening people to people contact
Prime Minister Modi has laid emphasis on the importance of people-to-people contact through 'STRENGTH'- S-Spirituality, T-Tradition, Trade and Technology, R-Relationship, E-Entertainment, N-Nature Conservation, G-Games, T-Tourism and H-Health and Healing.
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5. New Economic project in Afghanistan
Both the leaders have agreed that both the nations will work together on an economic project in Afghanistan. This, they said, will show that both India and China can cooperate and not just compete in the neighbourhood.
6. India, China stand for multi-polar world order
The two leaders have agreed to push forward bilateral trade and investment between the two countries. They reiterated the importance of building an open and pluralist global economic order in which all the countries can participate freely to pursue their developments. Both the leaders also agreed to work together towards the elimination of poverty and inequality in all regions of the world.
7. New chapter in Sino-Indian ties
During the talks, Xi said that he hopes that the Wuhan Summit will open a new chapter in Sino-Indian relationships. Prime Minister Modi also raised hopes that such informal summits become a tradition between the two countries. Prime Minister Modi has even invited President Xi to India for a similar informal summit next year.
