Modi's visit to China a bold step, says former Indian foreign secretary S Jaishankar

Former Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit to China later this week for an informal meeting with President Xi Jinping a bold step on Sunday (April 22) in New Delhi.

Modi has sought to re-set ties after disputes over issues including their disputed border with Tibet and other issues.

The Asian giants were locked in a 73-day military stand-off in a remote, high-altitude stretch of that boundary last year. At one point, soldiers from the two sides threw stones and punches.

Jaishankar said if the two countries could settle their differences amicably, then it would benefit the whole world.

Modi's previously unannounced Wuhan trip is even more unusual in that he will visit China again in June for a summit in Qingdao of the China and Russia-led security grouping, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, which India joined last year.

It is almost unheard of for foreign leaders to visit China twice in such close succession. Xi is also extending Modi the rare honour of a meeting outside of Beijing, which almost never happens unless there is a multilateral summit taking place.