File photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Beijing:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will begin his China visit tomorrow from Xi'an, an ancient city steeped in Chinese and Buddhist culture.
Before he meets Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss issues that define the future of bilateral ties, PM Modi will visit the famous Terracotta Warriors museum which has a large collection of sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China.
He will also visit the famous Buddhist Dashang temple in Shaanxi, the home province of President Xi, who has restored its old glory by making it the headquarters of his mega Silk Road projects.
Mr Xi will join PM Modi in the afternoon and the two leaders will spend nearly five hours holding restricted as well as informal talks. They are expected to discuss contentious issues like the border dispute and China's big push to rope in reluctant India into the Silk Road projects, specially the Maritime Silk Road or MSR over which India has strong reservations.
In Xi'an, Mr Modi will be hosted by Mr Xi, who departs from normal protocol to reciprocate a similar gesture by the Indian Prime Minister in Ahmedabad in his home state Gujarat, when the Chinese leader visited India in September last year.
Mr Xi will accompany him to the famous Wild Goose Pagoda, a magnificent structure built in the sixth century to commemorate famous Chinese Buddhist monk Xuan Zang's 17-year-long journey.
The two countries are set to announce a multi-million joint film production to reconstruct Xuan's epic journey.
PM Modi will also be accorded a traditional Tang dynasty welcome followed by a banquet hosted by Mr Xi.
Officials say the Modi-Xi talks in Xian will set the tone for PM Modi's structured talks with his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang in Beijing on May 15 during which the two sides are set to sign some key agreements.
Before he meets Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss issues that define the future of bilateral ties, PM Modi will visit the famous Terracotta Warriors museum which has a large collection of sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China.
He will also visit the famous Buddhist Dashang temple in Shaanxi, the home province of President Xi, who has restored its old glory by making it the headquarters of his mega Silk Road projects.
Mr Xi will join PM Modi in the afternoon and the two leaders will spend nearly five hours holding restricted as well as informal talks. They are expected to discuss contentious issues like the border dispute and China's big push to rope in reluctant India into the Silk Road projects, specially the Maritime Silk Road or MSR over which India has strong reservations.
In Xi'an, Mr Modi will be hosted by Mr Xi, who departs from normal protocol to reciprocate a similar gesture by the Indian Prime Minister in Ahmedabad in his home state Gujarat, when the Chinese leader visited India in September last year.
Mr Xi will accompany him to the famous Wild Goose Pagoda, a magnificent structure built in the sixth century to commemorate famous Chinese Buddhist monk Xuan Zang's 17-year-long journey.
The two countries are set to announce a multi-million joint film production to reconstruct Xuan's epic journey.
PM Modi will also be accorded a traditional Tang dynasty welcome followed by a banquet hosted by Mr Xi.
Officials say the Modi-Xi talks in Xian will set the tone for PM Modi's structured talks with his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang in Beijing on May 15 during which the two sides are set to sign some key agreements.
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