Mahabalipuram gears up for Modi-Xi meet

| | Chennai
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Mahabalipuram gears up for Modi-Xi meet

Friday, 11 October 2019 | PTI | Chennai

From traditional welcome to glimpses of South Indian art forms and decorative arches, Chinese President  Xi Jinping will be treated to a grand reception as he lands here  on Friday for the second informal summit with Prime Minister Narendra  Modi at the nearby ancient coastal town of  Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram).

The seaside town near here is swarming with police and Special  Protection Group personnel and the official machinery is fully equipped  for the summit. Bulletproof makeshift structures have been put near the shore  temple for the two leaders to hold talks.

Top police and Government officials completed assessing the security preparedness and fine tuned arrangements related to amenities for the leaders both here and at Mamallapuram.

Chief Minister K Palaniswami inspected the arrangements at the coastal town this evening.

Entry to the group of ancient monuments have been blocked and barricades have come up around them.

A grand ornamental arch to welcome the two leaders has been prominently put up at the entrance to Mamallapuram from the East Coast Road.

Traditional arches made of banana trees and sugarcane have been put in front of the ITC Grand Chola Hotel where Xi Jinping is scheduled to stay.

On his arrival, Xi will be welcomed by traditional peformances  including ‘tappu’ folk drum art display at the airport by about 500 artistes.

 Also, a string of other cultural events have been lined up  including Bharatanatyam and Kathakali peformances.

Apart from the cultural programmes on schedule at the Shore  temple on Friday evening, makeshift platforms have come up in several  locations including here and Mamallapuram for brief, cultural shows. According to the tentative schedule made available to the media,  the foreign guest is scheduled to arrive at 2.10 pm and he is set  to exit the airport through the fifth VVIP gate and proceed to the  nearby hotel.

Four high end cars have already arrived from China in a special  aircraft for use by Xi.

The entire stretch of GST Road where the airport is located,  the East Coast Road (ECR), which the foreign leader will take to  reach Mamallapuram, sports a fresh new look.

Wallposters over the huge pillars of the Metrorail on the GST  Road have been removed and an LED display board has also come up  near the airport to welcome the Chinese president.

After a brief stay at the hotel, Xi is set to leave for Mamallapuram  by road at 4 pm and he will be welcomed by Prime Minister Narendra  Modi at the seaside town.

The Chinese president will be visiting the Pallava era monuments  of Arjuna’s penance, the Five ‘Rathas’ (chariots) and the Shore temple  at Mamallapuram along with Modi.     Following cultural events at the Shore temple, the Prime Minister  will host dinner for the visitng foreign leader.

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