From one-on-one discussion at a tranquil beach resort overlooking the Bay of Bengal in Kovalam to exchanging gifts, the 2nd informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded on Saturday.
On Day 2 of the summit, Modi and Xi held a fresh round of one-on-one discussion at the Taj Fisherman's Cove Hotel.
Later, the two leaders held delegation-level talks.
Here are some of the glimpses.
Photographs: @pibchennai/Twitter; PTI Photo; @narendramodi/Twitter
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived at Taj Fisherman's Cove in Kovalam in golf cart for the second day of the informal summit.
On Friday, Modi and Xi held a two-and-half-hour “open and cordial” one-on-one discussion over dinner, vowing to jointly combat terrorism and radicalisation, and expand bilateral trade and investment.
China's state run Xinhua news agency reported that Xi and Modi agreed to promote exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations to achieve joint development and prosperity during their meeting on Friday.
Noting that China-India cultural and people-to-people exchanges bear great potential, the Chinese president urged both countries to take the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic relations next year as an opportunity to conduct broader and deeper cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
On Saturday, Xi and Modi held a one-on-one discussion lasting about an hour at the Fisherman's Cove resort, sending a clear signal of an intent to refashion ties for greater bilateral cooperation.
Sources said the talks between the two leaders went off well. The tete-e-tete was followed by delegation level discussions.
After around five-and-half hours of one-on-one talks with Xi Jinping spread over two days in the ancient coastal town of Mahabalipuram, Modi said a new era of cooperation will start between India and China with the "Chennai connect".
"We had decided that we will prudently manage our differences, and not allow them to become disputes, we will remain sensitive about each other's concerns and that our relations will lead to peace and stability across the world. These are our big achievements and these will inspire us to do more in future,” Modi said in his opening remarks at the delegation-level talks .
After around an hour-long talks at the Fisherman's Cove resort, the two leaders took a stroll along the beach and were seen engaged in discussion.
In his opening remarks, Xi said his "candid", "heart-to-heart" discussions with Modi on bilateral relations were "in-depth" and "good", noting that maintaining and expanding the Sino-India relations is a firm policy of his government.
The PM also said India and China were global economic powers during most of the last 2000 years and were returning to stage gradually.
After the talks, Modi tweeted that he had productive deliberations on further improving India-China relations.
The two leaders exchanged gifts after the conclusion of the summit.
The opening remarks by the two leaders at the delegation-level talks are seen as a clear reflection of attempts to recalibrate ties that were strained following India's decision to withdraw special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
Modi gifted the Chinese President a hand-woven silk portrait at lunch hosted by the PM. The portrait has been created by the weavers of Sri Ramalinga Sowdambigai Handloom Weavers Co-operative Society in Sirumugaipudur in Coimbatore District. It was made using pure mulberry silk and gold thread (zari).
Modi and Xi at an exhibition on artefacts and handloom at Taj Fisherman's Cove hotel in Kovalam, Tamil Nadu.
The two leaders agreed that China and India should respect and learn from each other so as to jointly achieve common development and prosperity, as well as the great rejuvenation of the two civilizations,.
Officials on both sides said the focus of the Modi-Xi summit has been to move forward and chart a new pathway of development notwithstanding sharp differences between the two countries over several contentious issues.
