What's BJP president Gadkari doing in China?

Bharatiya Janata Party President Nitin Gadkari arrived in Beijing on Thursday on a goodwill visit, the first-ever by a head of the party, to interact with the country's top leadership on a host of issues, including the India-China relations.

The BJP chief was accorded a warm and cordial welcome after he arrived here for a five-day visit heading a high-level delegation of the party.

"I am glad to be in China to meet the Chinese leaders. China is our largest neighbour. We share a 3500 km long boundary with China. We also enjoy civilisational links, which date back to over 1600 years," he said upon his arrival.

"Over the years our relationship has evolved, has grown, has matured, and it has become truly multifaceted. There is consensus across the political spectrum in India for cooperative and cordial ties with the People's Republic of China," he said.

He recalled the "historic" visit of BJP Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to China in 2003 and said it was during that productive visit that the two countries agreed to have Special Representatives of the Premiers of both India and China on the boundary issue.

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During Gadkari's interaction with leaders of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) a wide-range of issues of mutual concern and bilateral interests will be covered, a statement said.

The BJP delegation will also visit Shanghai and Guangzhou during its five-day trip, it said.

In Beijing, Gadkari is scheduled to meet Li Changchun, one of the nine senior most leaders of the CPC and a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC.

Gadkari will also have wide-ranging talks on issues of mutual concerns and areas of common interests with head of the international department, CPC, Ai Ping, it said.

The BJP delegation will have an interaction with the leaders of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC).

Gadkari will also meet with the Chinese Association for Bamboo and Vine Industry leaders and visit the bamboo and agricultural products processing enterprises, it said.

He also plans to visit Yanqing County to study a new energy development and recycle project in the rural area. The BJP chief will also visit one of the largest solar power plants in China and the new energy research institute.

In Guangzhou, the BJP delegation will visit the local community to study the party building at grass root level.

Gadkari's delegation includes party general secretaries Thawarchand Gehlot, Vijay Goel, joint organising secretary Saudan Singh, Secretaries Laxman Kova and Arti Mehra, his political associate Vinay Sahasrabuddhe and joint convener of the party's foreign affairs cell Vijay Jolly.