2nd informal summit aims at expanding ties amid Kashmir shadow

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will hold talks in Tamil Nadu’s coastal town of Mahabalipuram on October 11-12 to deepen ties, including in the field of counter-terrorism, even as the second informal summit comes amid lingering unease in ties over Kashmir with India asserting that it is an internal matter.

Hours after India and China announced Xi’s visit to India, the Chinese state media quoted the Chinese President as telling Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan during their meeting in Beijing that China has been “paying close attention” to the situation in Kashmir and the “facts are clear”.

According to the Xinhua news agency, the Chinese President also hoped that the “relevant parties” can solve the issue through peaceful dialogue.

Reacting sharply to reports of Xi and Khan discussing Kashmir, External Affairs Ministry said Beijing is “well aware” of New Delhi’s position and it is not for other countries to comment on its internal affairs.

Government sources also said there was no question of any discussion on the issue as it is India’s sovereign matter but added that Modi will update the Chinese President on the matter if there is a query.

The summit in the ancient coastal town in southern India is also taking place against the backdrop of China’s growing trade friction with the US.

Both leaders are likely to explore ways of expanding trade and business ties. India is expected to raise the issue of ballooning trade deficit in China’s favour, the sources said.

They added that political relations, trade and ways to maintain peace and tranquility along nearly 3,500 km long Sino-India border will be major focus areas in the talks.

Strategic affairs expert Ashok Kantha said the summit between Modi and Xi in an informal setting in the midst of evolving geo-political power play in the region and beyond shows that both the leaders are taking ownership of the complex relationship.

“The key aspect of the engagement will be how both the countries make incremental progress in addressing their differences and end the cycle of ups and downs in the ties,” he told PTI.

He said the India-China relationship is not only confined to bilateral ties, but has important regional and global dimensions. The first informal summit between the two leaders took place in the Chinese city of Wuhan last year months after a 73-day standoff between their armies in Doklam that had triggered fears of a war.

The perception that India’s decision in August to withdraw Jammu & Kashmir’s special status, triggering tension with China’s ally Pakistan, clouded preparations for the summit gained ground as both sides could only announce the dates for Xi’s India visit on Wednesday, barely 50 hours before the Chinese leader lands in Chennai.

“The forthcoming Summit will provide an opportunity for the two leaders to continue their discussions on overarching issues of bilateral, regional and global importance and to exchange views on deepening India-China closer development partnership,” the MEA said in a statement.

Government sources in Delhi said Xi is expected to arrive in Chennai early afternoon on Friday. Modi will take him to the famous world heritage site of Shore temple complex in Mahabalipuram and both of them will have a meeting at the site.

The effort would be to chart  broader pathways for development as also deepen ties in key areas, including counter-terrorism, sources said, adding the China-India counter-terror exercise is expected to be held later this year.

Both leaders will also witness a cultural programme following which Modi will  host a dinner for the Chinese leader.

On Saturday, both leaders will have a one-on-one meeting followed by delegation-level talks. The Chinese President is expected to leave for Nepal from Chennai around 2 pm on Saturday.

Xi will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Wang Yi and a polit bureau member of the Chinese Communist Party.

On China’s objection to the declaration of Ladakh as a union territory, the sources said it was a demand of local population and the decision has in no way changed the respective perception of the boundary between the two countries.

The sources also termed the visit of the Pakistan Prime Minister to Beijing before Xi’s India trip as a “bilateral matter” and said Modi-Xi meeting is “beyond one issue summit” and New Delhi does not see Imran Khan’s trip as an attempt by China to hyphenate the India and Pakistan relationship.

The broad objective of the summit will be to find a broad pathway for future growth of Sino-India ties, they said, adding that there was no plan to ink any pact or issue any joint communique after the Modi-Xi meetings.          

On China objecting to the Indian Army’s mega military exercise in Arunachal Pradesh, the sources said it is an operational issue.

 The India-China border dispute covers the 3,488-km Line of Actual Control. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet while India contests it. Both sides have been maintaining that pending the final resolution of the boundary issue, it is necessary to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas.

The two sides have already held over 20 rounds of border talks under the framework of the Special Representatives dialogue, set up to find an early solution to the border dispute.

China criticised India’s decision on Kashmir and its Foreign Minister Wang Yi even raised it at the UN General Assembly last month. Days later, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing said China was working for Kashmiris to help them get their fundamental rights and justice, comments which did not go down well with New Delhi.