Chinese President Xi Jinping to begin his maiden India visit from Gujarat

Beijing: Chinese President Xi Jinping will begin his maiden visit to India with a trip to Gujarat and may even go to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's native village as National Security Advisor Ajit Doval called on him on Tuesday and finalised the schedule of his tour.

While the two countries are yet to announce the tour programme, Chinese officials here said that Xi, who is also general-secretary of the ruling Communist Party, will begin his visit in Ahmedabad on September 17.

Doval who called on Xi made a strong case for the Chinese President to visit Vadnagar, Modi's native village.

"He (Modi) has developed so much respect for you and personal regard for you that he must have mentioned in his meeting with you many times to us," he said.

"He mentioned to you also about the place the great Chinese philosopher Xuan Zang visited, Vadnagar, Prime Minister Modi's own village," he told Xi.

Both sides declined to reveal the details of Xi visit. The Chinese foreign ministry has announced that Xi's visit to the subcontinent covering the Maldives, Sri Lanka and India would be between September 14-19.

Before that he would attend attend the 14th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit at Dushanbe in Tajikistan.

The Maldives has been added to his visit following the cancellation of Pakistan visit due to the political turmoil there.

His schedule to India was expected to be announced jointly in India and Beijing at a mutually agreed date, Doval told Indian media.

Indications are that Xi will arrive directly to Ahmedabad on September 17, and later go to New Delhi before flying back home on September 19.

Playing down the delay in announcing Xi's programme, Doval said, "Before the final announcement is made there may be last minute change from our side," he said adding that nothing should be announced prematurely. "It is almost on the cards.

It will be announced in a day or two," he said.

Asked whether Xi would go to Modi's village he said, "Wait and watch, if he has got time. Modi told him that he would like to take him to his village Vadnagar," he said referring Chinese philosopher’s visit in ancient times. It all depends on logic and facilities, he said.

He also said Modi has been asserting that foreign leadership should be taken to rural areas in different states.

This is part of the effort, he said.

Chinese officials said during the visit, Xi may announce the setting up of two Chinese industrial parks in the country, one in Gujarat and the other in Maharashtra.

About the letter of Prime Minister Modi, which he handed over to Xi, Doval said it is largely ceremonial and speaks of how grateful Modi is for Xi's visit. It is in response to Xi letter to Modi after he took over as Prime Minister, he said.

Welcoming Doval, Xi said his visit to finalise the programme testifies the great importance placed by Modi and the Indian government to the overall relationship with China.

"It also sends a positive signal to the outside world and I appreciate that," he told Doval.

Referring to his first meeting with Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS summit, Xi said, "I am happy about the great conversation I have had with Modi. During that meeting China and India leaders reached an important agreement," he said.

"We both agreed that the China-India relationship is a relationship of important strategic implications and we believe that by upholding our shared interests and deepening our cooperation will not only promote our respective national development but also serve the benefits of our two countries and two peoples," he said.

"In this way we will have important implications for the region and the world and also make important contributions to the region and the whole world," he said.

Stating that he looked forward to his India visit, Xi said "I believe this visit will give me a better understanding of the development accomplishments of India and of the various cooperation between the two countries. I believe we will work together with Prime Minister Modi and Indian government to elevate our bilateral relations to a new level," he said.

Reciprocating the sentiments, Doval said he was "privileged" to meet Xi and hand over a special message from Modi.

"Right from the time you had the meeting in Fortaleza where it was decided you will be visiting India some time in September, Prime Minister Modi was extremely keen that you must visit his home state," Doval said.

In his talks with Doval, Yang Jiechi said Xi's upcoming visit to India will be a milestone in the history of bilateral ties.

Yang said Doval's visit to China shows the Indian government and people attach great importance to Xi's visit.

Xi's Indian visit is a priority and both sides should work to make it a success, he said.

Xi's visit will establish the direction for development of China-India relations, Yang said.

Doval said that India has been looking forward to Xi's visit and will coordinate with China to make sure that the visit promotes India-China strategic cooperative partnership.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that China and India will make further plans for the development of bilateral ties during Xi's visit, and identify key areas for cooperation.