PM Modi's maiden China visit: What's on the table?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's maiden China visit is expected to touch on complex issues of mutual interest and significance to both nations.

Among them are the long-pending border dispute, a widening trade imbalance in favour of China, stapled visas, China taking up large infrastructure projects in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and economic matters.

During the May 14 to 16 visit, the Prime Minister is expected to make a push for and seek larger Chinese investments in India, besides greater market access. He preside over a meeting of Chinese and Indian CEOs and convince them that his pet Make in India initiative would enhance business-to-business interaction for mutual benefit.

In what can be termed a bold move, Prime Minister Modi may announce an E-visa policy for Chinese citizens,but an official confirmation on this is yet to emerge. THis move may attract flak from the opposition in India, which has of late been dissecting every action of the Modi-led government. The E-visa may even be read as a climb down by New Delhi, though sources are saying that it is targetted at giving a boost to tourism.

However, in practice, limitations on Chinese will continue and visas will be issued only after thorough screening.

Diplomatic initiatives by the Prime Minister are expected to be hard, deft and soft.

To capitalise on China's growing interest in yoga, Prime Minister Modi and his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang will together witness a unique joint demonstration of yoga and Chinese Tai Chi 'moving meditation' exercises at the iconic Temple Of Heaven in Beijing. Modi will also attend the opening of the first ever yoga college at China's Yunan University.

A Centre for Gandhian Studies will also be opened at Fudan University.

How does the Chinese leadership see the visit of Prime Minister Modi to their country?

China has already said it will use Modi's visit to cement existing momentum and is hopeful of taking relations to a new high.

Insiders say Prime Minister Modi shares a good chemistry with President Xi Jinping and are hopeful that this will help bilateral ties move in the right direction

In a rare gesture, President Jinping will receive Prime Minister Modi in his historic hometown of Xi'an. It will be the first time that a Chinese President is receiving a foreign leader outside Beijing. It maybe recalled that President Xi was also received by Prime Minister Modi in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, in September last year.

During that visit to India, President Jinping promised Chinese investment worth USD 20 billion, and it is hoped that Modi's visit to China this week will focus on the way forward from that point.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already set the tone for the visit. In a recent interview to Time magazine, he said, "India and China have 'learnt from history' in dealing with their border dispute; and bilateral ties have reached a stage where they can cooperate at a global level while competing in commerce and trade."

Modi will conclude his visit by addressing the Indian Diaspora in Shanghai. The turnout is expected to at least match the turnouts at Madison Square Garden (New York, United States), the Allphones Arena (Sydney, Australia) and the Ricoh Coliseum (Ontario, Canada). (ANI)

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