Chennai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi commenced the meeting in Tamil, welcoming China to the talks, after a one-on-one discussion between Modi and Xi at the Taj Fisherman’s Cove Hotel.
“Tamil Nadu and the historic city of Chennai have connected India and China through cultural and trade exchanges since ages,” he said.
The Indian delegation at the talks includes National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale among other high-level officials.
“Last year’s Wuhan Summit was successful in bringing increased stability and fresh momentum to bilateral ties. Strategic communication has also increased between the two countries,” Modi said.
“The Wuhan summit instilled a new momentum and trust in our relations and today’s ‘Chennai Connect’ is the start of a new era in India-China relations,” said the Prime Minister.
Xi on the other side recalled the “heart to heart discussions” that both the leaders had on the first day of Mamallapuram summit on Friday.
“We are really overwhelmed by your hospitality. My colleagues and I have felt that very strongly. This will be a memorable experience for me and us,” Xi said.
