PM Modi to meet Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang today

Li was the first foreign leader to have spoken with Modi on the telephone following his swearing-in in May.

Chinese prime minister Li Keqiang was the first foreign leader to have spoken with Modi on the telephone following his swearing-in in May. (Source: AP photo)

PM Narendra Modi will have his first meeting with his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang on Thursday afternoon on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit here.

Li was the first foreign leader to have spoken with Modi on the telephone following his swearing-in in May, with the two sharing a 30-minute telephone call. The Chinese prime minister had reportedly pledged then to build a “robust” relationship with the new NDA government.

Li is second-ranked in the Communist Party of China (CPC) after President Xi Jinping and as Premier, Li holds the reins of the Chinese economy and has a more direct role in executing policy as the head of the Chinese State Council or Cabinet.

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Although President Xi’s India visit in September was seen as having been somewhat overshadowed by the stand-off in Chumar along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the positives from the visit included the $20 billion investment pledge from China and steps to move forward agreements such as the setting up of China-dedicated industrial parks in India.

Beijing and New Delhi have clashed over relations with the neighbours in recent weeks, with China expressing concern over India’s naval plans with Vietnam, while India has cited worries over the docking of a Chinese submarine at the Colombo harbour.

Apart from Li, Modi is slated to meet Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, the new President of Indonesia Joko Widodo and the Prime Minister of Laos at the sidelines of the East Asia Summit on Thursday.

Anil Sasi

Anil Sasi is National Business Editor with the Indian Express and writes on business and finance issues. He has worked with The Hindu Business Line and Business Standard and is an alumnus of Delhi University. ... Read More

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