Fortaleza:
- The Prime Minister in his first meeting with the ChinesePresident conveyed India's desire for maintaining peace at the Sino-Indianborder. During his election campaign Mr Modi had taken a strident position onthe incursions by the Chinese army and warned China against its expansionistdesigns.
- Over the past five decades India has accused China of occupying 38,000 sq kmsof Indian territory while Beijing lays claim to 90,000 sq kms of land inArunachal Pradesh. The escalation in tensions between the two countries washighlighted last year when India alleged that Chinese troops had crossed intothe Ladakh region.
- The Prime Minister is also said to have related his experience of havingundertaken the arduous Mansarover yatra to push for an additional route to theregion. Thousands take the yatra and the demand for an additional route isclose to the BJP's core agendas. The Chinese president is said to have acceptedthe suggestion.
- PM Modi raised the issue of India's trade deficit with China. External Affairsministry Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said that the Prime Minister stressedupon the need for balance. Expansion of Indian exports and enhanced visits oftourists from china were also discussed by the two leaders.
- China is India's largest trading partner and their combined trade volume was49.5 billion dollars in the period between April and December last year.
- According to sources, the two leaders had prepared themselves for their firstmeeting and started the dialogue by relating elements from each others' past.While Mr Modi is said to have recounted the experiences and speeches of theChinese president, the latter spoke about the Prime Minister's term as Gujaratchief minister.
- PM Modi also invited the Chinese president to visit India, which the latter accepted,and as discussed, the two sides will work on the modalities of the visit fromhere on. The Chinese on the other hand invited the prime minister for the APEC(Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) meeting in November. The Indian side isexpected to respond after checking the Prime Minister's engagements.
- The meeting was scheduled to last for 40 odd minutes, but eventually lasted formore than 80 minutes as the two leaders discussed all aspects involvingbilateral, regional and global issues.
- The Chinese president crowned the meeting by telling the Indian Prime Ministerthat when China and India meet, the world watches.
- The two leaders will be back sitting together at the 6th edition of the BRICSsummit, along with leaders of Russia, South Africa and Brazil.
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