South Asia
Modi hosts grand Gujarati fiesta for Chinese President
Ahmedabad, Sept 17 : It seems that Gujarat witnessed a grand fiesta on Wednesday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrating his 64th birthday in his home state besides giving a high-profile welcome to Chinese President Xi Jinping on his first visit to India.
Xi Jinping was given a grand welcome on Wednesday by the Indian PM.
When the Chinese Premier landed, a traditional Gujarati dance greeted him and his wife Peng Liyuan at the Ahmedabad airport.
PM Modi later received the couple at a hotel with flowers.
Modi and Xi Jinping also visited the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad.
The Chinese President was seen dressed in an off-white Khadi jacket, which was presented to him earlier in the day by Modi.
The two leaders spent a few minutes at Hriday Kunj in the Ashram, where President Jinping operated the charkha (spinning wheel)
Accompanied by Modi, the Chinese President and the First Lady later visited the Sabarmati Riverfront at Ahmedabad.
The two leaders sat on a jhoola (swing) for a few moments.
Jinping and the First Lady also sat on a traditional cot, before joining the Prime Minister for a private dinner on the riverfront.
The Chinese President was reportedly treated to a 150-dish Gujarati banquet including Khaman and Dhokla.
According to sources, Jinping will fly to New Delhi on Wednesday night.
On Thursday, the two premiers will hold formal bilateral talks.
It has been learnt that the main agenda of the talks will be trade and commerce.
This is the first visit by a Chinese President to India since 2006.
