From K J M Varma
Beijing

Chinese President Xi Jinping looks to replicate the warm and unconventional welcome extended to him by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to India when the Indian leader arrives here next month on his first visit to China.

Modi will begin his three-day China sojourn by arriving in the ancient city of Xian, the capital of Xi’s home province Shaanxi where the Chinese President and his charismatic wife Peng Liyuan set to play the host, showcasing the local culture and warmth.

It is rare for Chinese leaders to receive foreign guests in cities other than Beijing and according to officials Xi was keen to reciprocate warm and innovative welcome extended by Modi when he visited India in September last.

Besides entertaining Xi and Peng with a Jhula ride, which topped the collection of their photo album of foreign visits last year, Modi also took them to Mahatma Gandhi?s Sabarmathi Ashram where he and Xi spun the Charkha.

Chinese officials say that efforts were on to extend a warm welcome to Modi in Xian where Xi would accompany him to the Wild Goose Pagoda, a spiritual structure build to highlight famous Chinese Buddhist monk Xuan Zang’s journey to India in 645 AD through the ancient Silk Road and returned home after a 17-year-long sojourn with precious Buddhist scriptures.

The Xi couple will host a banquet for Modi in Xian after which he would arrive in Beijing where he would hold in depth talks with Xi on the sticky issue of border dispute and on ways to improve bilateral relations with large Chinese investments.

Ahead of the Modi’s visit, however, Xi made high-profile visit to Pakistan unveiling of the USD 46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). There is unease among officials from both sides about its likely impact on the outcome of Modi’s visit.

Besides talks with Xi, Modi would also meet Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and other officials, address students of Tsinghua University and attend a Yoga event at the famous Temple of Heaven in Beijing.

The Indian Community Associations in China today invited their members to register to attend a high-profile public meeting on the lines Madison Garden get together in New York to be addressed by Modi on May 16 in Shanghai.

About 45,000 Indian professionals currently residing in China and a majority of them are expected to attend the event.

The Prime Minister will also attend an event to open India chair in Fudan University in Shanghai and address an investors’ meet.

– PTI