PM Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping to hold informal summit in China

Taking bilateral ties to a new high, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping during an informal meeting on April 27 and 28 in Wuhan city.

This was announced after delegation level talkes between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi in Beijing.

In another major development, India and China have agreed to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through the Natha Lu route in Sikkim, 10 months after the pilgrimage was stopped.

The decision was made during delegation level between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Chinese foreing minister Wang Yi in Beijing.

India said maintaining peace in the border areas with China was an “essential pre-requisite” for the smooth development of bilateral ties.

Kailash Mansarovar Yatra was stopped by China in the aftermath of the military face-off with India last year at Doklam.

Ministry of external affairs organises the yatra from June to September each year through two different routes – Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand and Nathu La Pass in Sikkim.

The yatra, which holds religious value, cultural significance, is undertaken by hundreds of people every year.

Diplomats and anlaysts have hailed the latest development in Sino-Indian ties

Besides, China also agreed to resume sharing of hydrological data of the Brahmaputra and Sutlej rivers.

Sharing of hydrological data crucial to predict floods in India’s northeast region, prone to natural calamities.

China provides flood season data of the Brahmaputra river between May 15 and October 15 every year.

Swaraj, who is visiting Beijing to take part in the foreign ministers’ meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), also exchanged views on cooperation on multilateral arena and discussed their perspectives on counter-terrorism and collaborative efforts to address other global challenges, such as climate change and sustainable development.