Three pacts signed in Gujarat on first day of Chinese Presidents visit

New Delhi: The three-day visit by the Chinese President Xi, has been described as a trip to focus on economic and trade issues within the two countries.

President Xi is expected to announce large-scale Chinese investments in railways, manufacturing as well as infrastructure rivalling Japan’s $35 billion pledge made during Mr Modi’s recent visit to Tokyo. China could commit anywhere between $100 billion to $300 billion in modernising the Indian Railways, establishing industrial parks and investment in mega infrastructure projects.

India and China signed three-Gujarat specific pacts.

While an agreement was signed between Guangdong province and the Gujarat government for development of cultural and social ties between the two provinces, another MoU was inked between Guangzhou city and Ahmedabad to make them sister cities. These MoUs will facilitate the exc-hange of ideas and ser-vices between Gujarat and China, officials said.

The Gujarat authorities rolled out the red carpet as Mr Xi, the first top Chinese leader to visit Gujarat, was given a warm welcome.

President Xi’s three-day India visit is aimed at ramping up trade and investments, besides having discussions on substantive issues, including the contentious border dispute.