Rare gesture: Former Chinese PM hosts lunch for Singh

The gesture is rare as leaders in China generally go into obscurity after their retirement unlike Wen.  

When asked about the lunch, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said the two leaders met as they were friends for long.

“The reason is very simple. It is because Wen is an old friend of Prime Minister Singh. This kind of arrangement reflects the importance the Chinese side attaches to the visit by Prime Minister Singh,” she said.