Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping
In the shadow of a standoff at the border, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held talks with visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping in Delhi. Both leaders talked about the need to demarcate the boundary and resolve the dispute quickly.
Here are 10 developments in this story:
The eyeball to eyeball confrontation between Indian and Chinese troops in Chumur, the worst in many years, saw Prime Minister Modi raise the issue twice since yesterday, when he hosted President Xi in Ahmedabad.
"I expressed concern on border incursions and the need to resolve it. Peace and stability at the border is necessary. We need to resolve the boundary issue quickly. Our Confidence Building Measures have helped but I also suggested that for peace and stability we need to clarify the Line of Actual Control," Mr Modi said.
The Chinese President said he too was ready to end the row. "The border has yet to be demarcated. Sometimes there maybe incidents but both sides are capable of handling situation with border mechanisms so that these don't have a large impact," President Xi said.
Contrary to expectations, China did not announce an investment of 100 billion dollars. Instead, the figure comes to 20 billion, significantly below the 35 billion pledged recently by Japan. The two countries signed 12 agreements, including one for cooperation in "peaceful uses of outer space."
They have also agreed on a new all-weather route for the Kailash Mansarover pilgrimage through the Nathu La pass in the Himalayas. Mr Modi said this would help more Indians reach the site.
The two countries have also decided to initiate talks on civil nuclear cooperation. The announcement comes after India struck a deal earlier this month to buy uranium from Australia to increase its fuel supplies.
As PM Modi and President Xi held talks at Hyderabad House in the heart of Delhi, scores of Tibetan protesters in yellow jackets shouted anti-China slogans and held up placards outside. They were dragged and bundled into buses, but many refused to budge.Tibetans have been demanding freedom from Chinese rule.
Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama said, "Tibet's problem is also India's problem. Sooner or later you have to solve the problem but not by force."
Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, who earlier met President Xi, tweeted, "I told President Xi Jinping : Ge xia, wo hen huanying nin dao yindu lai. ( I extend to you a very warm welcome to India)"
President Xi, the first Chinese president to visit India in eight years, has brought along with him a business delegation of 135 Chinese CEOs.
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