Modi meets Chinese Premier

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang had a pull-aside on the margins of the East Asia Summit here on Tuesday.

"Two neighbours in deep conversation. PM @narendramodi with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on the margins of #EastAsiaSummit Summit in #Manila," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted along with a picture of the two leaders sitting on a sofa.

The meeting comes after Indian and Chinese troops were locked in an over two-month-long standoff at the Doklam plateau in Bhutan.

The crisis, which erupted in June over Chinese moves to build a road in an area claimed by Bhutan, ended in August, with both sides deciding to "disengage" from the face-off point.

Earlier this month Beijing protested Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's visit to Arunachal Pradesh but New Delhi reasserted that the northeastern state was an integral part of India.

In his remarks at the 12th East Asia Summit here on Tuesday, Modi reiterated India's commitment to address the political, security and economic issues of the region.

Leaders of the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) states - Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam - and of Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea and the US hold this annual summit.

Later on Tuesday, Modi will attend the 15th India-Asean Summit. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the India-Asean dialogue partnership.

--IANS

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