Modi reaches China for G20, meeting with Xi Jinping

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday flew into this Chinese city for the crucial G20 summit and talks with top world leaders, including one with Chinese President Xi Jinping on irritants in bilateral ties like India’s NSG bid and the CPEC, which runs through PoK.

Mr Modi, who reached here after a two-day maiden visit to Hanoi, begins his programme Sunday morning by holding talks with Mr Xi, in their second meeting in less than three months. The two leaders had last met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in June in Tashkent.

Sunday’s meeting is viewed as important in the backdrop of steady decline in the bilateral relations over a raft of issues including the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor which runs through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The two leaders, who enjoy a good rapport, would discuss contentious issues, which will also include listing of Pakistan-based terrorist organisations in the UN and China stalling Indias membership at the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

This would be followed by a meeting of the Brics (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) leaders ahead of the G20 summit later in the day.

The G20 summit’s this years theme is Strengthening Policy coordination and Breaking a new path for growth.

The PM will also hold meetings with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Saudi Arabias deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.

On Monday, he will take part in the second and concluding session of the G20 and hold bilateral meetings with British Prime Minister Theresa May and Argentinian President Mauricio Macri before returning to Delhi.

In all, he would reside in this picturesque city for about 48 hours, officials said. A meeting between Mr Modi and US President Barack Obama is, however, not on the cards during this trip, they said.