Prime Minister Narendra Modi took an hour-long boat ride with his host Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday, the final day of an ice-breaking trip both are hoping will lead to better ties.
Modi is spending only about 24 hours in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, just months after Doklam standoff soured ties.
Billed by both sides as an informal meeting rather than a summit, with none of the pomp and ceremony of a state visit such as 21-gun salutes, the two men held talks on Friday.
Follow live updates here.
12:17pm: Informal summit concludes as PM Modi leaves for New Delhi.
10:30am: India and China to have a joint economic project in Afghanistan, according to sources.
10:10am: Briefing ends.
10:09am: “The two leaders underscored that it is important to maintain peace along India-China border region and decided that they will issue strategic guidance to their respective militaries to strengthen communications and to build trust and understanding,” ANI quotes Gokhlae as saying.
10:08am: Modi and Xi have agreed that greater efforts need be made to maintain peace and tranquility at the border, says Gokhale in response to a question.
10:07am: This is a new way of communication that the leaders are trying. President Xi Jinping hasn’t hosted any foreign leader outside capital Beijing, says Gokhale.
10am: In their meetings, the two leaders agreed to maintain peace along the border, and also maintain a balance trade ties, said the Indian foreign secretary.
9:29am: The two leaders said the informal meeting was candid and helped in boosting strategic ties, says Gokhale
9:58am: Both leaders acknowledge the threat of terrorism and agreed on “resolute opposition to terrorism”, says Gokhale.
9:57am: Global issues discussed during the meetings included climate change, food security and sustainable development.
9:56am: In the purpose of economic stability, both countries acknowledged each other’s role in helping the global economy grow, says Gokhale.
9:55am: Gokhale says the leaders agreed there should be more strategic boost to communications.
9:54am: Gokhale says the leaders talked of sharing cultural ties, PM Modi said more movies could be shared. Leaders also discussed sharing expertise in sports.
9:50am: India’s foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale says the basic objective of the summit was to discuss overlapping issues between countries. The two leaders agreed they will proceed with peaceful bilateral relations.
9:49am: Briefing begins. India ambassador to China also present.
9:43am: A briefing by the Indian foreign secretary is expected soon.
9:19am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping continue their discussions inside a house boat on Wuhan’s East Lake. The leaders are in private talks, with just two interpreters to help in clear communication.
9:10am: The leaders participate in a tea ceremony.
#WATCH China: Prime Minister Narendra Modi & Chinese President Xi Jinping have tea after a walk along East Lake in Wuhan. pic.twitter.com/5BuROg31Cg
— ANI (@ANI) April 28, 2018
8:50am: Modi and Xi board a boat; the leaders will take a ride on the East Lake, the second largest urban lake in China.
8:15am: Day two of the ‘informal’ summit begins with a walk around the famous East Lake in Wuhan.
Modi and Xi spent their first day of the ‘informal’ summit touring the Hubei Provincial Museum, holding delegation-level talks and later meeting at a dinner hosted by the Chinese president at Mao’s villa.
The meetings over the two days is expected to set the stage for a more positive relationship between India and China after last year’s military standoff in Doklam soured ties, among other issues.
Prime Minister Modi said cooperation between two countries is essential to maintain peace and stability around the world and offered to host the next informal summit between leaders of the two Asian giants.
President Xi too said he believed they can have more summits in the same format.
“We should look at the big picture of China-India relationship from the strategic angle and ensure our relationship continues forward in a positive direction. Friendship between the two countries should continue to grow like Yangtze and Ganges flowing forward forever,” Xi was quoted as saying by state-run CCTV.
