Xi takes PM Modi on museum tour ahead of 'informal' summit

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday visited the exhibition of Marquis Yi of Zeng Cultural Relics and Treasure at Hubei Provincial Museum in Wuhan.

"Spending time together! In a special gesture, Chinese President Xi took PM @narendramodi on a tour of the exhibition of Marquis Yi of Zeng Cultural Relics and Treasure displayed at the Hubei Provincial Museum," wrote Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar.

The leaders of the two Asian giants will now hold a meeting at the East Lake Guesthouse at Wuhan.

Later, the two leaders will walk up to the Meiling Hall around the guesthouse.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi and Xi Jinping held one-on-one talks after the former arrived at the Hubei province.

"PM @narendramodi was welcomed at the Hubei Provincial Museum with an impressive cultural performance. India and China cultural connect go back many centuries and is reflected in present times through the popularity of Bollywood, Yoga and other aspects of Indian culture," the MEA spokesperson tweeted.

Both the leaders discussed the historical past of both India and China as Prime Minister Modi highlighted his visit to Three Gorges Dam as Gujarat's Chief Minister.

The ongoing historical bilateral summit between India and China is expected to thaw tensions between the two, rising due to primarily the Doklam stand-off.

Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Wuhan, will depart for India on Saturday.

The two Asian leaders, in 2014, met in Gujarat as part of the short historic visit of Xi Jinping along with a group of Chinese ministers to the Sabarmati Ashram.

In 2016, President Xi Jinping visited India to participate in the BRICS summit at Goa.

The following year, Prime Minister Modi visited China to participate in the G20 summit in Hangzhou and attend the BRICS summit in Xiamen.