PM Modi to meet President Xi next month

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Argentina in November, Chinese Ambassador to India, Luo Zhaohui, said on Monday.

The meeting will be held on the sidelines of the G20 summit. The two leaders last met in July during the 10th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg.

Speaking at the inaugural event of the first Joint India-China Training Programme for Afghan diplomats in New Delhi, the envoy said, "This will be their (President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi) first meeting in Argentina. I am delighted to see that China-India relations are going along the fast track."

He further informed that in December, both countries will jointly launch the people-to-people programme between the two countries.

"In December, China's state councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit India to launch the first India-China high level people-to-people exchanges mechanism," Zhaohui added.

Talking about the India-China training programme that kick-started on Monday, the Chinese envoy asserted that this curriculum will help both New Delhi and Beijing to contribute immensely to the regional peace in Afghanistan.

"The launch of the programme today will make coordination and cooperation closer between the two countries. This is also a very positive development in the India-China relationship. Afghanistan is also an important country in our region. China and India have been active supporters of Afghanistan's peace and reconstruction process. This joint program is an endeavour by China and India, both being major, responsible developed countries, to contribute to the regional peace and stability of Afghanistan. I am confident that this programme will go a long way to help the Afghan diplomats in enhancing friendship among the three nations," he stated.

The training programme, which is being conducted as part of a trilateral cooperation between India, China, and Afghanistan will end on October 26.