Modi rolls out red carpet for Chinese Prez; two leaders walk the talk
Chinese President Xi Jinping, accompanied by his wife Peng liyuan, began his three-day India visit from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home State on Wednesday. Jinping and the First lady were given a red carpet welcome at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport as he disembarked from an Air China aircraft around 3 pm.
Jinping was received by Gujarat Governor Om Prakash Kohli and Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, among others, in traditional Gujarati style with performances by folk dancers. After inspecting a Guard of Honour, Jinping and his 130-strong entourage left for Hyatt Hotel, driving through an 18 km-long festooned route dotted by flags of the two countries.
At the hotel, the visiting Chinese President was received by Narendra Modi, while leading lights of the Indian business and industry welcomed their Chinese counterparts.
Gujarat spared no efforts to honour and wow the visiting Chinese President and Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar were lit up and decorated like a bride. Modi was himself around to explain the nuances of the freedom struggle and the lifestyle of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, when the visiting President went around the Sabarmati Ashram.
Modi gifted a book on Mahatma Gandhi as well as a spinning wheel to Jinping. The Chinese leader even turned the wheel of the charkha (a traditional spinning wheel used by Mahatma Gandhi to weave his clothes) to pay tribute to the Mahatma at Sabarmati Ashram.
In the last leg of the five-hour visit to Ahmedabad, Jinping and Modi walked the talk at a magnificently-decorated Sabarmati Riverfront Development Project.
Riverfront Park, the venue for the diplomatic meeting was transformed into a mini-India and both the leaders sat on a traditional Gujarati swing made in Sankheda town. Modi later took the guests for a walk there while artistes performed folk dances from Gujarat and some parts of India.
When they sat at the amphitheater to see a Mandvi dance performance, the Chinese President’s wife, who is a popular folk singer in China, could be seen enjoying the music.
The grand dinner at Riverfront Park was eaten amid cultural events, music and magnificent lighting. After the dinner, Modi and Jinping spoke in detail before leaving the venue. Even Jinping’s wife Peng liyuan stood at a distance leaving the leaders alone. The body language of the two leaders suggested that serious bilateral issues were being discussed. Around 8 pm Jinping departed for Delhi.