Spruced up Mamallapuram ready for second Modi-Xi informal summit

The two leaders will engage in one-on-one talks during the meeting and are expected to discuss expanding economic and development ties apart from the Kashmir issue and the CPEC

The stage is set for the second ‘informal’ summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, to be held in the coastal and heritage town of Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram). The two-day meet starts tomorrow.

The meeting comes at a critical time for the neighbours with China recently criticising India’s decision to scrap Jammu and Kashmir’s autonomy and bifurcate the state into two Union territories, its Foreign Minister Wang Yi raising the Kashmir issue at the UN General Assembly last month and New Delhi responding by saying it did not welcome comments on its internal matters. India also remains opposed to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), as it passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

“At the regional level, we should resolve disputes peacefully through dialogues and consultations and jointly uphold regional peace and stability,” said Sun Weidong, Beijing’s ambassador to New Delhi. The two leaders will engage in one-on-one talks during the meeting and are also expected to discuss expanding economic and development ties.

After winning his second term, Modi formally extended an invitation to Xi in June at the Bishkek summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, which the latter accepted. This is the second informal summit between the two leaders, after Wuhan, which was held in April, 2018, in China. Notably, China has been importing rice and sugar from India following a request from the Prime Minister in the first informal summit…

Read More: Modi-Xi informal summit

Modi-Xi Summit: The story behind Mamallapuram’s Chinese connection

Mamallapuram, also known as Mahabalipuram, is located on the East Coast Road. The name is said to be derived from the word “Mamallan”, which means great warrior, a reference to King Narasimhavarman I.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to meet on Friday and Saturday for the second informal summit between them after the first was held in in Wuhan, China, in April 2018. The meeting, will not be held in New Delhi, which has been the tradition, but in the coastal town of Mahabalipuram, or Mamallapuram, almost 50 kilometers south of Chennai.

The question is why PM Modi chose this town to be the venue of the meet. While many believe that by choosing Mamallapuram, PM Narendra Modi wants to send a message to other Dravidian parties in the state that the BJP is serious about Tamil Nadu, another reason could be the town’s historical connections with China.

Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram)

After the decline of the Gupta Dynasty, the Pallavas rose to power in South India, ruling from the third century until the end of the 9th century AD. The best period of their rule, between 650 and 750 AD, was called the Golden Age of the Pallavas. The Pallavas were profound thinkers and were very powerful.

Mamallapuram, also known as Mahabalipuram, is located on the East Coast Road. The name is said to be derived from the word “Mamallan”, which means the great warrior, a reference to King Narasimhavarman I of the Pallava dynasty, who ruled the region from AD 630 to almost AD 670, and was also known for his love of art and sculpture. Many of the monolithic rock-cut structures that are now seen in this region were created during his time…