Gujarati dishes on dinner menu for Chinese President Xi

Putting an end to all speculations regarding the menu of the dinner to be served to Chinese President Xi Jinping who will be coming to Ahmedabad on his maiden visit on Wednesday, the state government has said the food will consist of only Gujarati delicacies.

"I know all of you are curious to know about what will be served to Xi Jinping in the dinner. Let me tell you that the dinner will have only Gujarati food items. The dinner is arranged in the main dome set up in the Riverfront garden area," senior minister Nitin Patel told reporters at the Sabarmati Riverfront.

According to Patel, dinner is arranged for a total of 22 VVIPs of both the sides, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"There will be 11 members each from both the sides, taking the total number to 22. Our 11 dignitaries include the prime minister, Gujarat chief minister Anandi Patel and

several ministers" said Patel, who inspected the preparations at the Riverfront ahead of Xi's visit on September 17.

Giving details about the schedule, Patel said Xi will land at Ahmedabad airport at 2:30 pm on Wednesday.

"Jinping will be greeted by our chief minister, Governor and ministers at the airport where he will also be given the Guard of Honour. He will then be taken to Grand Hyatt hotel ... Modi will hold one-to-one talk with Jinping for almost 20 minutes," said Patel.

There will be a business meet and MoUs will be signed at the hotel. Later, Xi is scheduled to visit Sabarmati Ashram, accompanied by Modi.

"After spending time at the Ashram, both the leaders will head to Riverfront to take a walk. No one except Modi, Jinping, his wife and an interpreter will be there during their one-to-one talk during the walk," said Patel.

"Before taking dinner, both the leaders and other dignitaries will watch various cultural and folk dance programmes organised by the state government. A film on Gujarat's rich cultural heritage, including Buddhist caves near Vadnagar, will be shown to dignitaries," said Patel.

After dinner, the Chinese President will leave for Delhi from Ahmedabad airport at 7:30 PM, added Patel.