The visit by China’s President Xi Jinping to India, his maiden one, is set to redefine Indo-China relations, which have stumbled through decades of unrealised potential. Collaboration by the two Asian giants could transform the region, apart from rewriting the rules of international geopolitics.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscored the importance he accords to the visit by deciding to personally receive Xi in Ahmedabad, the latter's first halt in the country before heading to New Delhi. The two leaders, who have met before on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Brazil in July, are expected to take the bilateral relations, that has been bedevilled by the border dispute, to the next level.
But all is not hunky-dory between the two neighbours. The border dispute is just one of the problems between them, there are others as well, which pose a hindrance to the smooth conduct of bilateral relations. Will Modi and Xi be able to address these issues when they sit down together?
What does the future hold for the two nations?
Srikanth Kondapalli, professor in Chinese studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University and rediff.com columnist, will appear on the Rediff Chat to discuss the import of Xi's visit and what it bodes for the two nations, for Asia, and for the world at large.
Join us for the chat on September 18, 2014, at 5 pm IST.
Owing to unforeseen circumstances, chat timings are subject to change.
