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• PM Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping visit Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu --> PM Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping visit Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu --> PM Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping visit Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu

PM Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping visit Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu

The second informal summit between India and China saw PM Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping visit the UNESCO world heritage site in Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu. The leaders visited Arjuna's Penance, the Pancha Rathas complex and the Shore Temple.

The #ChennaiConnect ! PM @narendramodi welcomes President Xi Jinping at Arjuna's Penance in Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu. pic.twitter.com/wS06sEWCTU — PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 11, 2019

PM @narendramodi and President Xi Jinping are at the Pancha Rathas complex in Mamallapuram. pic.twitter.com/ejVC1aBtxH — PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 11, 2019

India says Swagatam to President Xi Jinping! pic.twitter.com/DhkA14nYow — PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 11, 2019

The splendid Shore Temple and a special cultural programme. pic.twitter.com/KuEUWzRoCy — PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 11, 2019

The cultural programme ended with a prayer for peace and harmony. pic.twitter.com/XS2JTa7mws — PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 11, 2019

Welcome to India, President Xi Jinping! pic.twitter.com/1NGGKTFSCm — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 11, 2019

Mamallapuram is one of the most beautiful places in India, full of vibrancy. It is linked to commerce, spirituality and is now a popular tourism centre. I am delighted that President Xi Jinping and I are spending time in this scenic place, which is also a @UNESCO heritage site. pic.twitter.com/5oH95Rh34p — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 11, 2019

Arjuna's Penance is one of the grandest places to see in Mamallapuram. It brings to life aspects of the Mahabharata. Arjuna's Penance also showcases the best of Pallava Art, especially the depiction of nature and animals. pic.twitter.com/gL5S7JZoJm — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 11, 2019

President Xi Jinping and I saw the marvellous Pancha Rathas. The five Rathas are examples of monolith rock-cut architecture. The Rathas in this monument include the Dharmaraja Ratha, Bhima Ratha, Arjuna Ratha, Nakula Sahadeva Ratha and Draupadi Ratha. pic.twitter.com/s5xQARmQfC — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 11, 2019

Overlooking the Bay of Bengal is the majestic Shore Temple. One of the most iconic landmarks, the Shore Temple exemplifies the greatness and grandness of Indian culture. Here are some pictures... pic.twitter.com/ICDEWsZI30 — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 11, 2019

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Xi Jinping, Narendra Modi visit ancient sites, cultural show in Mamallapuram during informal summit

This is the second informal summit between the two leaders after the one in wuhan city of china in april 2018..

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met in the coastal town of Mamallapuram near Chennai on Friday. Xi is in Tamil Nadu for two-day informal summit with Modi – the second between the two leaders after the one in Wuhan city of China in April 2018.

Xi was received by Modi at the Arjuna’s Penance monument, after which they visited Krishna’s Butter Ball , a huge granite boulder that rests on a slope. They then proceeded to the Five Chariots complex and Shore Temple . The two leaders attended a cultural programme at Shore Temple. They had dinner later in the evening, and the president was reportedly served Tamil cuisine .

Monuments in the historical Mamallapuram town form a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town is also known as Mahabalipuram.

The Chinese president had arrived in Chennai at 2 pm, and was received by Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Speaker P Dhanapal, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam at the airport. He stopped by at the ITC Grand Chola hotel, before leaving for Mamallapuram around 4 pm. Modi had already arrived in the coastal town by then.

On Saturday, India and China will hold delegation-level talks at Taj Fisherman’s Cove Resort and Spa in Chennai. Modi will then host a lunch for Xi, after which the Chinese president will leave for the airport.

Ahead of the summit, Chennai got a makeover, with walls being cleaned of graffiti and electric poles being given neat covers. New fences were built outside the monuments and the stone pavements leading to it were renovated. Security measures were also beefed up in the state with the traffic police announcing major route changes within Chennai city limits and the outskirts. The routes were closed for heavy vehicles on both the days of the summit, according to The News Minute .

Earlier this week, Xi had met Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in Beijing, where they spoke about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir .

📡LIVE Now: PM @narendramodi and President #XiJinping attend a cultural performance by Kalakshetra at Shore Temple in #Mamallapuram Watch on #PIB 's YouTube: https://t.co/xdHjjKuyf8 Facebook: https://t.co/p9g0J6q6qv https://t.co/5kkJYTsQeY — PIB India (@PIB_India) October 11, 2019

PM @narendramodi and Chinese President, Xi Jinping at Arjuna's Penance and Krishna's Butter Ball in #Mamallapuram , Tamil Nadu. pic.twitter.com/9Zp6g4plaZ — PIB India (@PIB_India) October 11, 2019

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Modi-Xi Jinping meet: Tamil Nadu's Mamallapuram holds a historical China connect

Mahabalipuram, which is part of tamil nadu’s kanchipuram district, is referred to in a chinese text, chien han shu, as ‘huang che’..

Modi, Xi Jinping to meet in Mamallapuram 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will hold talks on October 11-12 to deepen ties, including in the field of counter-terrorism in the second informal summit.

Reflecting the high levels of security required for the two top leaders, dozens of temporary police outposts have been set up in and around the town which will be under the watch of 800 CCTV cameras.

India China summit in Mamallapuram 

Historical importance of Mamallapuram 

Mamallapuram or Mahabalipuram, as it is commonly referred to, was established by Narasimhavarman I of the Pallava dynasty in the seventh century AD. The summit venue is 50 km from Chennai, Tamil Nadu’s capital. It was established as a seaport town by the Pallava king to carry out merchandise trade with other parts of the world.

Narasimhavarman was hailed as “Mamallan” for his excellence in warfare and hence, the seaport town was named Mamallapuram.

The Pallavas had sent their envoys to China as they had a good relationship with them. The China-Pallava dynasty relationship included an understanding on defence.

Narasimhavarman II had offered help to the Chinese rulers to take on the Arabs and Tibetans.

Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang went around the Pallava kingdom of Narasimhavarman I and lauded the people’s valour, conduct and excellence in education.

Another significant aspect to the Sino-Indian summit being held at Mamallapuram is that India and China have had trade relations dating back to the pre-Christ period.

Historians say there is archaeological evidence of Sino-India links that date back to 2,000 years. Chinese coins dating back to these centuries have also been found in the state.

Mahabalipuram, which is part of Tamil Nadu’s Kanchipuram district, is referred to in a Chinese text, Chien Han Shu, as ‘Huang Che’.

Mamallapuram was a thriving port until the end of ninth century AD with the town being part of China’s 'Silk Route' and India’s 'Spice Route'. Kanchipuram’s silk industry owes its genesis to the import of raw silk from China through Mamallapuram.

The rich history of Mamallapuram’s relations with China makes it the best venue that India could have decided upon to host Modi’s summit with Xi.

Security arrangements at Mamallapuram 

Vehicle screening has been intensified in the town and control rooms are on standby. Barricades have been put up on the beach near the shore temple, one of the places to be visited by PM Modi and Xi, while a make-shift wall has been erected along its compound on the side where a string of shops are located.

The wall towering over the shops, which will remain shut, sported 'rangoli' artwork in some stretches with the background painted in red colour.

Local fishermen have been asked to stay away from the sea from Thursday, officials said. Plainclothesmen are swarming the town roads and the Inspection Bungalow is teeming with top state and police officials.

Tamil Nadu's Mallapuram gears up for India-China summit

The Special Protection Group and bomb disposal squad personnel are "keeping all the areas including the group of monuments to be visited by the two leaders sanitised."

Over two dozen sniffer dogs have also been pressed into service as part of the security arrangements, police said.

The cleaning up and beautification work of the monuments and various other places entered the last stretch with the involvement of hundreds of civic, sanitary and other workers.

Workers are seen using high power air compressor based equipment to clean up the locations in and around the monuments.

In a painstaking effort, scribblings made by visitors on various monuments were removed by the personnel of the chemical branch of the Archaeological Survey of India, officials said.

The entire coastal town has been dotted with around 100 ornamental lights while welcome arches have been erected at the entry point to the town.

Besides, banners with a red background and images of the two leaders posing with a smile neatly embossed will be placed in key locations, officials said.

The welcome messages are in Tamil followed by Hindi and Chinese next.

The ongoing work by electricity employees to "fix cables underground" and refurbishing some power distribution installations has resulted in frequent power cuts in the past week, locals said.

Meanwhile, welcoming the summit, a national integration rally was organised on Wednesday with the participation of a large number of school children. 

Also Read | Not for others to comment on Kashmir: India after Imran-Xi meeting

Also Read | Kashmir, Article 370, not to figure in Modi-Xi Jinping talks

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PM Modi and Xi Jinping to go for sightseeing, cultural programme at Mahabalipuram

Pm modi and chinese president xi jinping will visit some of the unesco world heritage sites in tamil nadu’s mahabalipuram, which is 50 km away from chennai..

The meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday in Chennai will be second informal summit between the two leaders. The Chinese President Xi Jinping will reach Chennai on October 11 post noon.

PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit some of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in Tamil Nadu’s Mahabalipuram, which is 50 km away from Chennai. The two will also attend a cultural programme presented by Kalakshetra.

PM Modi will show President Xi some of the major historical sites in Mahabalipuram, which is famous for its temples and monuments built by the Pallava dynasty in the 7th and 8th centuries.

Follow Narendra Modi Xi Jinping Meet Live Updates here.

According to reports, the prime minister will host dinner for the Chinese president and the two will also attend a culture programme by Kalakshetra at the venue.

Also Watch l Wuhan 2.0: What’s on the table for Modi-Xi informal talks in Mamallapuram  

PM Modi and President Xi on October 12 will hold the second round of discussions between their delegations at the Fisherman’s Cove after which the Chinese leader will fly back.

Chinese President and PM Modi will not be signing any documents during their meet since the talks between the two leaders are informal.

Apart from PM Modi, the talks will be attended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, while Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will also be there along with President Xi.

The reason behind choosing the World Heritage Site of Mahabalipuram for the second informal summit was PM Modi and President Xi’s shared interest in history and culture.

(with agency inputs)

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Explained: Going back 1300 years, the story of Mahabalipuram’s China connection

The name mamallapuram derives from mamallan, or “great warrior”, a title by which the pallava king narasimhavarman i (630-668 ad) was known..

Mahabalipuram, or Mamallapuram, 56 km south of Chennai on the Tamil Nadu coast, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet China’s President Xi Jinping on October 11 & 12 in an informal Wuhan-style summit , had ancient links with Buddhism and China through the maritime outreach of the Pallava dynasty.

The setting speaks to several contemporary themes in India-China relations — and of contacts, both continuous and changing, across space and time. While the powerful symbolism of Mahabalipuram will likely not succeed in influencing China’s hard-nosed assertion over J&K and other issues with India, the remarkable historical significance of the venue bears underlining.

When the Pallavas ruled

The name Mamallapuram derives from Mamallan, or “great warrior”, a title by which the Pallava King Narasimhavarman I (630-668 AD) was known. It was during his reign that Hiuen Tsang, the Chinese Buddhist monk-traveller, visited the Pallava capital at Kanchipuram.

Narasimhavarman II (c.700-728 AD), also known as Rajasimhan, built on the work of earlier Pallava kings to consolidate maritime mercantile links with southeast Asia.

Most interestingly, as historian Tansen Sen recorded in his 2003 work Buddhism, Diplomacy and Trade: The Realignment of Sino-Indian Relations, 600-1400, Narasimhavarman II sent a mission to the Tang court in 720 with a request that would seem unusual in the context of India-China relations today.

The emissaries of the Pallava king sought the permission of Emperor Xuangzong to fight back Arab and Tibetan intrusions in South Asia. And, “Pleased with the Indian king’s offer to form a coalition against the Arabs and Tibetans, the Chinese emperor bestowed the title of ‘huaide jun’ (the Army that Cherishes Virtue) to Narayansimha II’s troops”, Sen wrote. The offer of help by the Pallava ruler, Sen noted, may have had more to do with furthering trade and for the prestige of association with the Chinese emperor, rather than any real prospect of helping him to fight off enemies in the faraway north.

The Descent of the Ganga/Arjuna’s Penance, a rock carving commissioned by Narasimhavarman I, with its depiction of the Bhagirathi flowing from the Himalayas, may serve as a reminder of the geography of India-China relations, and their shared resources.

Hindus, Muslims and China

Tamil-Chinese links continued after the Pallavas, flourishing under the Cholas as the Coromandel coast became the entrepot between China and the Middle East. The links extended to a wider area beyond Mahabalipuram, through a layered history that has left a rich tapestry of society, culture, art and architecture, which is diverse and complex, and reaches up to modern times.

If he looks south from the platform of the 7th century Shore Temple, President Xi might be able to spot a key symbol of 20th century — the white domes of the Madras Atomic Power Station at Kalpakkam, 15 km down the coastline. MAPS, built in the 1980s, is India’s first indigenously constructed power station.

India’s secularism and diversity would not be on the agenda of the two leaders — however, their meeting ground is in a part of the country where this ethos is a lived reality. Hindu- and Muslim-majority villages alternate along that coast, each community having lived next to the other for centuries.

Read |  Tamil Nadu cops arrest nine Tibetan activists ahead of Modi-Xi Jinping summit

By the time Islam arrived on south India’s east coast in the 9th century, Muslims had already started trading with China by maritime routes, Sen wrote. The trading missions that the Cholas sent to the Song court included Muslims. A trader named Abu Qasim was second-in-command of a mission sent in 1015; the next mission, in 1033, included one Abu Adil. “It is possible that both Abu Qasim and Abu Adil were members of the Tamil-speaking Muslim community on the Coromandel coastknown as Ilappai,” Sen wrote. Today, the ancient port of Marakanam is a fishing village, known for its Muslim boatmakers.

Continuing connections

In later centuries, the Coromandel coast retained its importance for trade between China and the west. In the 17th and 18th centuries, it was a staging post for the Dutch, French and British for control of the seas between South Asia and Southeast Asia, as the Europeans fought to protect their trade routes with China and other countries in the region.

The ancient port city of Pondicherry, 80 km south of Mahabalipuram, was a French colony famous for its Chinese exports known as “Coromandel goods”, including crepe de chine. Today the Union Territory, with its French legacy, Tamil residents, Bengali and international devotees of Sri Aurobindo, is among the most diverse and cosmopolitan of cities in South India.

After establishing their writ on the Coromandel Coast, the British expanded eastward and established control over the Straits of Malacca, essentially to protect their trade routes to China and the rest of the region.

Among the colonial outposts on this coast is Sathurangapattinam, or Sadras, right next to Kalpakkam, where the Dutch East India Company built a fort, their second one on the east coast after establishing a capital at Pulicat, north of Chennai.

Sadras became a huge centre for the Dutch-controlled manufacture of cotton and muslin. The Dutch presence in the region grew rapidly after they established themselves in Java in 1603. They traded within Asia, buying textiles, metal, and porcelain, importing and exporting between India, China and Japan, to keep the spice trade going.

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Narendra Modi-Xi Jinping meeting at Mamallapuram Updates: PM accepts invite to hold next informal summit in China

Narendra Modi-Xi Jinping meeting at Mamallapuram LIVE Updates: Briefing the media after the informal summit between India and China, foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale said, “China is ready to take sincere action to address India’s concerns on trade deficit. The Chinese side also proposed that a high-level trade discussion channel be set up to address these specific concerns.” He said, “from the Chinese side Vice President of China will engage with Indian finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman.”

China apreciates India’s concerns on RCEP

Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale revealed that the Chinese side has accepted there are concerns in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. The exact modalities to balance out trade concerns will be worked out later.

India, China agree to enhance people-to-people contact

“There was new focus on people to people relations. It was decided that public of both countries must be brought in the relationship.Ideas were exchanged on this,” Gokhale said.

China propses high-level communication mechanism to address trade-related issues

China has proposed to set up a specific channel to address trade-specific concerns between the two countries. Chinese vice premier will remain in touch with finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman as part of a formal trade discussion channel, foreign secretary Vijaya Gokhale said. Although he did not specify a time frame to this discussion, Gokhale said that the prime minister has indicated he wants some progress made before the next India China summit, “so we are looking at a very compact time frame of under one year.

Chinese President Xi Jinping departs for Nepal

Chennai: Chinese President Xi Jinping departs for Nepal; he was on a 2-day visit to India for the second informal summit with PM Narendra Modi in Mahabalipuram. #TamilNadu pic.twitter.com/0o0cEZ4QAY — ANI (@ANI) October 12, 2019

China ready to take sincere action on trade deficit, says Vijay Gokhale

Briefing the media after the informal summit between India and China, foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale said, “China is ready to take sincere action to address India’s concerns on trade deficit. The Chinese side also proposed that a high-level trade discussion channel be set up to address these specific concerns.” He said, “from the Chinese side Vice President of China will engage with Indian finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman.”

Modi gifts Xi Jinping the latter’s portrait handwoven in silk

The hand-woven silk portrait of Chinese President Xi Jinping gifted by PM Narendra Modi, was created by weavers of Sri Ramalinga Sowdambigai Handloom Weavers Co-operative Society in Sirumugaipudur in Coimbatore District. #TamilNadu pic.twitter.com/8E3VRPiUsO — ANI (@ANI) October 12, 2019

New era of Sino-India cooperation to begin with ‘Chennai connect’: Modi

After around five-and-half hours of one-on-one talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in multiple sessions spread over two days, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here that a new era of cooperation will begin on Saturday in Sino-India ties through the “Chennai connect”.

In his delegation level talks with Xi at a luxury resort overlooking the Bay of Bengal in Kovalam on the second and final day of the informal summit, Modi noted that India and China were global economic powers during most of the last 2000 years and were returning to stage gradually. “The Wuhan spirit had given a new momentum and trust to our ties. A new era of cooperation will begin today through the ‘Chennai Connect’,” Modi said while referring to the outcome of the first informal summit between the two leaders in the Chinese port last year.

The prime minister said strategic communication between the two countries increased following the first informal summit in Wuhan.

“We had decided to prudently manage differences and not to allow them to become disputes. We had decided that we will be sensitive towards each other’s concerns,” said Modi.

Xi Jinping departs from Taj hotel

Chinese president Xi Jinping has left from Taj Fisermen’s Cove after holding talks with the Indian prime minister. He will leave for Nepal around 2.00 PM 

Tamil Nadu: Chinese President Xi Jinping departs from Taj Fisherman's Cove hotel in Kovalam for Chennai. pic.twitter.com/QzsIvpjkSi — ANI (@ANI) October 12, 2019

Modi gifts Xi handwoven saree featuring latter’s portrait

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping were at an exhibition on artefacts and handloom at Taj Fisherman’s Cove hotel in Kovalam, Tamil Nadu. The Indian prime minister gifted the Chinese president a handloom saree with his portrait woven into it, while the Chinese premier gave Modi a Bone China plate with his portrait painted over it.

#Don’tGoBackModi trends on Twitter day after anti-PM trend

A day after #GoBackModi trended on Twitter, apparently a mark of protest against the prime minister’s policies, the trend #Don’tGoBackModi took up the microblogging site. This also came on the day the prime minister cleaned the Kovalam beach during his morning walk.

Xi, Modi visit exhibition of artifacts and handloom  

Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are at an exhibition on artefacts and handloom at Taj Fisherman’s Cove hotel in Kovalam, Tamil Nadu.

PM Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at an exhibition on artefacts and handloom at Taj Fisherman's Cove hotel in Kovalam, Tamil Nadu. pic.twitter.com/YQS48oQwi2 — ANI (@ANI) October 12, 2019

Modi says Wuhan summit opened channel to prudently resolve differences

“Calling for a sensitive approach towards’s each other’s concern, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at the beginning of the delegation-level talks said, “We have decided to manage our differences prudently, and will not let them become disputes”.

‘We hear your concerns,’ Chinese president tells PM after ‘heart to heart talks’

Giving a very brief and cryptic opening remark for delegation-level talks between India and China, Xi Jinping said, “Yesterday Prime Minister as you said, you and I had engaged in candid conversations like friends, heart to heart discussions on bilateral relations. And I look forward to many more such interactions with you. I heard your concerns on several issues and I will respond to them in due time.”

Chinese president says overwhelmed with your hospitality

In his opening remarks at the delegation-level talks, Xi Jinping said, “I am overwhelmed by your warm hospitality and I want to thank you and the people of Tamil Nadu.  This will be a memorable experience for me and us”

Delegation level meet starts as Modi, Xi’s private meeting ends; foreign minister, NSA present

Delegation level talks between Indian and China have started. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale are present.

Watch: PM Modi, China’s Xi Jinping hold talks at Taj Fishermen’s Cove hotel

#WATCH : PM Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at Taj Fisherman's Cove hotel in Kovalam, Tamil Nadu. pic.twitter.com/wSVKPHANoc — ANI (@ANI) October 12, 2019

Nepal decks-up to welcome Chinese president Xi Jinping

Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to leave for Nepal post-lunch, where he will stay overnight and hold talks with the Himalayan country over regional cooperation. Meanhwile, Nepal is all decked up to welcome the Chinese premier. Nepal government has set up welcome gates at various locations around the capital with the flag of Nepal and China docked on the edge of the road as well as the portrait of the President on the poles.

The two-day stop-over visit of the Chinese president is set to begin from 12 October. As per the schedule, Chinese President Xi will be landing in capital Kathmandu at around 4:30 pm

Members of the Chinese diaspora gather outside ITC Grand Chola Hotel

Members of the Chinese Diaspora gathered outside the ITC Grand Chola Hotel in Chennai where President Xi Jinping is staying. 

Tamil Nadu: Members of the Chinese diaspora gather outside ITC Grand Chola Hotel in Chennai where President Xi Jinping is staying. The Chinese President will meet PM Modi later today in Kovalam pic.twitter.com/dPCGIgiMxt — ANI (@ANI) October 12, 2019

Traffic restrictions imposed in Chennai for second straight day to facilitate Chinese president’s State visit

Chennai city is set to face traffic restrictions on Saturday morning once again as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese Premier Xi Jinping set to attend talks at Kovalam, near Chennai today,  The Indian Express  reported.movement of traffic along Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) and East Coast Road (ECR), will be restricted. 

• 07:30 am to 2.00 pm: Vehicles proceeding towards the city along Rajiv Gandhi IT Expressway/Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) will be diverted at Sholinganallur towards Perumbakkam.
• 07.00 am to 1:30 pm: Vehicles will be barred from entering Muttukadu at Akkarai junction on ECR.

Xi Jinping arrives at Hotel Taj Fisheman’s Cove

Modi received Chinese president Xi Jinping to resume their conversation at the Taj Hotel where the former was staying. The two leaders took an eco-friendly ride to ‘Machan’ at Taj Fisherman’s Cove for another round of one-on-one meeting, followed by delegation-level talks and lunch.

With a magnificent view of the Bay of Bengal, PM @narendramodi and President #XiJinping hold 2nd Informal Summit level talks in #Mamallapuram #ModiXiMeet #ModixijinpingMeet pic.twitter.com/lMeApKP3Kn — PIB India (@PIB_India) October 12, 2019

Narendra Modi tweets video of himself plogging the Kovalam beach

Plogging at a beach in Mamallapuram this morning. It lasted for over 30 minutes. Also handed over my ‘collection’ to Jeyaraj, who is a part of the hotel staff. Let us ensure our public places are clean and tidy! Let us also ensure we remain fit and healthy. pic.twitter.com/qBHLTxtM9y — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 12, 2019

On day two of Mamallapuram visit, Narendra Modi enjoys morning walk at Kovalam beach

Refreshing walk and exercises in Mamallapuram, along the scenic coast. pic.twitter.com/UjUq8FbVAv — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 12, 2019

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PM Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit these Mamallapuram monuments

Prime minister narendra modi and chinese president xi jinping will go for a guided tour of some monuments like arjuna's penance, panch rathas and shore temple..

Listen to Story

• Xi Jinping will spend nearly 24 hours in India during his second informal bilateral with PM Modi at Mamallapuram
• PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit landmark attractions
• PM Modi and Xi Jinping will go on tour of some monuments like Arjuna's Penance, Panch Rathas and Shore Temple

Ahead of the India-China summit, this ancient coastal town near Chennai has been virtually turned into a fortress with unprecedented security arrangements while the beautification and other preparations touched a feverish pitch.

The picturesque historical seaside town of Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu will be the cynosure of all eyes as Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosts Chinese President Xi Jinping at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) world heritage site for the second bilateral informal summit on October 11-12.

Historic city of Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu witnesses thousands of tourists in a day. The number rises exponentially during winters.

The ancient city is all decked up to receive its high-profile visitor -- PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping -- on October 11. PM Modi and XI Jinping will be in Mamallapuram for taking Indo-China relations to next level after Wuhan summit.

Why Mahabalipuram was chosen for Modi-Xi Jinping Summit

The reunion of the 2000-year old relationship.

The Second Chinese President to Visit India.

India  is all set to shower its hospitality to a powerful visitor from the land of the Red Dragon. It is not the first time, a Chinese president is coming to India. A staggering Chinese communist leader and Prime Minister of China,  Chou En-Lai had visited Mamallapuram in 1956  accompanied by then  Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru . 

Tamil Nadu’s  connection with the Chinese empire is more than  2000 years old . There have been great trade activities happening between these two culturally strong landmarks in the world. The erstwhile port of  Mahabalipuram  in  Kanchipuram  as rightly mentioned by the renowned Chinese Monk,  Fahien Hiuen Tsang  in his works had always been a focal point of communication between the two nations.

The rich history of Mamallapuram’s relations with China makes it the best venue that India could have decided upon to host Modi’s summit with Xi.

History Repeats

The ancient relationship reunites.

The whole of  India  and  Tamil Nadu  is proud to welcome the honorable  Chinese President Xi Jinping . He would stroll along with the honorable  Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi  along with the monuments of the  UNESCO Heritage site,  Mamallapuram . The Shore Temple, Arjuna Penance, The Butter Ball of Krishna, and all other detailed Pallava carvings would create the necessary cultural vibe to enhance the aura of this informal meeting. There is a whole lot of connection between India and China in all areas, especially trade and culture for more than 2000 years.

The Exchange of Knowledge – The School of Saints

The most notable connection of China with  Tamil Nadu  had happened even before the Great Chola domination. The arduous pilgrimage on foot for the spiritual hunt of the world-famous pilgrim  Fahien Hiuen Tsang  during the  7th century AD  has a divine relationship with  Kanchipuram . It was the prime center of the Buddhist Pilgrims in those days. The pilgrim traveler must have crossed the prominent port Mamallapuram to reach the capital of the majestic Pallavas. Tsang’s documents about his holy journey for the rummage of Buddhist Texts contain vital notes about Mamallapuram and  Kanchipuram .

Mahabalipuram , also known as Mamallapuram is a renowned  UNESCO World Heritage Site in Tamil Nadu , that surprises everyone with its intricately carved temples, rock-cut caves and monolithic structures. Served as the major seaport of the ancient Chola and Pallava kingdom, Mahabalipuram also flourished as a significant center of art, architecture and literature during their reign.

Similarly, the Chinese are still grateful for the unconditional love and service of their highly revered martial art master,  Bodhi Dharma . Due to his cordial efforts, China learned the Shaolin Kung Fu based on the Shaolin monastery. Jawaharlal Nehru’s book – Glimpses of World History explains the journey of the “Dharma Master”, Bodhi Dharma to China. The Buddhist prince was born in Kanchipuram, the Pallava capital in Tamil Nadu. He traveled to China to spread  Mahayana Buddhism  and he had a great reception in the court of Emperor Wu belonging to the Liang dynasty. Two of the greatest monks have been related to Kanchipuram and Mamallapuram, probably the holiest seaport to have ever existed on Earth.

Tamizh Stone Inscriptions in the Ancient Port City of China

Quanzhou in southeast China recently unveiled Tamil (The Oldest Language in the World) stone inscription along with Mandarin (The Most Spoken Language in the World) scripts. Interestingly, the place of discovery happened to be a seaport like  Mahabalipuram  in Tamil Nadu, India. The paleography matchings confirm the stone inscriptions belong to the 13th century.

“Hari Om and goes on to praise the greatness of Lord Shiva and seeks his blessings for the king.”

This meaning reveals the love for the Tamil God Lord Shiva on different soil. Purposedly, the Tamizh texts are on the top while Mandarin takes the bottom portion which shows respect for Tamizh language on the Chinese Soil. Similarly,  the excavation of Saluvankuppam in 2004  unveiled remarkable Chinese coins while certain records tell about the gifts and convoys sent to Mamallapuram from China, Thus, it’s revealed that the Mahabalipuram was a port town 2,000 years ago during what is called the ‘Sangam’ period.

Mamallapuram was a thriving port until the end of the ninth century AD with the town being part of China’s ‘Silk Route’ and India’s ‘Spice Route’. Kanchipuram’s silk industry owes its genesis to the import of raw silk from China through Mamallapuram. The Chinese kings had even given Kanchipuram a nickname – “ Huang-Che ”. Post Sangam literature mentions the Chinese “ Zunk ” as “ Tungu Naavay ” which is a massive Vessel, a Chinese Ship, indeed!

Chinese King Statues in the Temples of Tamizh Nadu

Kanchipuram  was also the ancient trading hub of the Chola Kingdom and China. Look at the right side image of a Chinese king. This statue is present inside the most charming and noteworthy Chola Temple,  Brihadeeswara Temple (Perudayar Kovil) or  Thanjai Periya Kovil  in  Tanjore . This is a symbol of great respect for China as their king finds a place in history’s greatest site and era – The Raja Raja Cholan period where Tamizh flourished in all forms. The greatest monarchs of all time, the legendary king Raja Raja Cholan and his successors had established trading with China. Mamallapuram and Kanchipuram was their meeting point. King Rajendra Cholan, the son of Raja Raja Cholan had a harmonious rapport with the Chinese Kings during the greatest era of the Tamizh culture, language, and arts, the Chola Era.

From the ancient period to till,  Tamilnadu  follows a rich tradition and culture where ‘Hospitality’ is the core competency of it. Culturally and historically affluent  Tamil Nadu  is undoubtedly the reflection of India’s cultural wealth.  With our  Tamil Nadu culture tour packages , explore the magnificent Dravidian temples, monuments, beaches & hill stations to uncover the rich cultural heritage of Tamil Nadu.

The whole of the world, India, and China, this second informal meet between these two powerful leaders bring positive outcomes all around. Tamil Nadu’s honorable Chief  Minister  Edappady K. Palazhanisamy  had quoted about the visit of  Chou En-Lai to Mamallapuram .  India is happy to invite the Chinese president to Mamallapuram.

He recalled the historical fact that China and Tamil Nadu shared trade and cultural ties centuries ago, even as Chinese emissary Yuan Suang had visited the Pallavas, whose port city was Mamallapuram.

Besides maritime trade with China from Mamallapuram , trade ties with India’s eastern neighbor had flourished during the Chola rule also, which was a matter of pride for Tamils, the Chief Minister said.

Let the cultural stroll of the two presidents create an everlasting cordial bonding between the two beautiful countries.

Let us unite again!

Marked by the historical monuments and structures,  Mahabalipuram  takes you to a ride along the times of Cholas and Pallavas. If you are a fan of history and archaeological edifices, Mahabalipuram is a must to add in your travel bucket list and is worth every minute spent here.

Ways to Reach

Home to  UNESCO World Heritage Site , Mahabalipuram is a beautiful, serene town in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is easily accessible by all modes of transportation.

• Chennai  International Airport is the nearest airport to Mahabalipuram, at a distance of about 52kms, which is well connected to all major cities of India like Delhi, Mumbai, Kochi , Bangalore , Pune and Kolkata. Taxi/cabs and buses are available any time from the airport to reach Mahabalipuram.
• Chengalpattu  is the nearest railway station at a distance of about 30kms. However,  Chennai Central and Chennai Egmore  railway station is the nearest and  major  railway station at a distance of 58kms, you can reach here by trains from major cities of India like Kochi , Bangalor e, Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. Taxi/cabs and buses are available any time from these stations to reach Mahabalipuram.
• Mahabalipuram is well connected by a number of interconnecting roadways to Chennai , Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram and Pondicherry , surrounded by trees on both sides. Self-drive trips are great to explore the city with flexibility and freedom so as to enjoy sightseeing and attractions. The route has beautiful landscapes, tempting enough for you to stop and click photos/pictures or selfies.

Book  your  Mahabalipuram  Trip from  Chennai  with our  Tamilnadu Tour Packages  and explore the traditional  Tamil culture  through magnificent architecture, rock-cut caves and historical temples with  Tamilnadu Culture Tour Package .

Book  your customized  Tamilnadu tour packages  and holiday tour packages at best offers with  South Tourism .

For more details and bookings, feel free to visit,  www.southtourism.in  and get a free quote for your itinerary.

1 thought on “ Why Mahabalipuram was chosen for Modi-Xi Jinping Summit ”

There are some fascinating deadlines in this article but I don抰 know if I see all of them middle to heart. There is some validity but I will take maintain opinion until I look into it further. Good article , thanks and we want extra! Added to FeedBurner as nicely

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PM Modi-Xi Jinping meet: Traffic diversions in and around Chennai for tomorrow

Pm narendra modi and china president xi jinping meeting: security has been intensified at mahabalipuram and chennai for the maiden two-day visit of chinese president xi jinping..

Key Highlights

• Chinese President Xi Jinping will land in Chennai at 2:10 pm tomorrow
• At around 4 pm, Xi will travel to Mahabalipuram, 50 km away from Chennai
• The Chennai Traffic Police have announced route changes within Chennai and on the outskirts of the state capital

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government is all set to give a grand welcome to Chinese President Xi Jinping on his two-day visit to the state on Friday. The Chinese President will land in Chennai at 2:10 pm tomorrow and will head to ITC Grand Chola Hotel in Guindy.

Reports suggest that Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Chief Minister K Palaniswami and others will receive Chinese President Xi Jinping on his arrival at the Chennai International Airport.

At around 4 pm, Xi will travel to Mahabalipuram, 50 km away from Chennai, by road in his Hongqi luxury car to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Xi Jinping will attend a dinner hosted by PM Narendra Modi at 6.45 pm.

Meanwhile, security has been intensified at Mahabalipuram and Chennai with the Tamil Nadu Police deploying thousands of security forces to avert any untoward incident.

The Chennai Traffic Police have announced route changes within Chennai and on the outskirts of the state capital. IT companies, educational institutions, commercial establishments and the general public have been asked to plan their travel accordingly.

China’s President visit to Tamil Nadu: Traffic diversion in Chennai tomorrow

October 11 and October 12 - 6 am to 11 pm: No heavy vehicle, light goods carrier, goods vehicle, and tanker lorry will be permitted to enter GST Road (from Airport to Kathippara), Anna Salai (Kathippara to Little Mount), Rajiv Gandhi Salai (OMR), Sardar Patel Road, and East Coast Road (ECR). 

October 11 - 3.30 pm to 4.30 pm: Vehicles moving on GST Road will not be given permission to enter Guindy. Traffic will face diversion at the Kathippara junction.

October 11 - 2 pm to 9 pm: Traffic entering the city via OMR will face diversion at Sholinganallur junction via Perumbakkam. A similar arrangement will be in place on Saturday also from 7.30 am to 2 pm.

October 11 - 2 pm to 9 pm: No vehicle will be permitted to move towards Muttukkadu at Akkarai junction on ECR. The same arrangement will occur on Saturday from 7 am to 1.30 pm.

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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.

PM Narendra Modi shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of G-20 summit, in Buenos Aires, Friday (PIB Photo via PTI)

Spruced up Mamallapuram ready for second Modi-Xi informal summit

How the port city of mamallapuram is preparing for the indo-china summit, pm modi to meet china's xi jinping at bishkek this week: what to expect, why narendra modi should resist the urge to be india's xi jinping, trump's 'higher tariff' claim: high on emotion, low on facts, top biz headlines: jio to charge for calls, airtel raises $750 mn, and more, top events today: kashmir opens for tourists, us-china trade talks, & more, india slips down 10 places to 68th rank on global competitiveness index, diwali gift for govt employees and pensioners: cabinet hikes da by 5%, govt approves rs 5.5 lakh resettlement package for 5,300 displaced families.

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First Published: Oct 10 2019 | 9:43 AM IST

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Xi Jinping Gets Unique Welcome At Chennai School Ahead Of Meeting With PM Modi

Prime minister narendra modi and president xi will hold an informal summit at mahabalipuram, tamil nadu, about 55 km south of chennai..

Around 2,000 students at a Chennai school created formation of Xi Jinping name in Mandarin

A day ahead of Xi Jinping's visit to India, a school in Chennai organised a special welcome for the Chinese President. Around 2,000 students at the school wore masks of the Chinese leader and created formation of his name in Mandarin, while waving the national flags of India and China.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi will hold an informal summit at Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, about 55 km south of Chennai on October 11-12. The meeting will be the second such summit between the two leaders, following their 2018 landmark meeting in Wuhan, China, where the two sides agreed to hit reset on India-China ties after the 2017 Doklam crisis.

Students at the Chennai school wore masks of Chinese president Xi Jinping. (PTI image)

In 2018, the catchphrase "Wuhan Spirit" was coined to signify the commitment of both sides to enhancing strategic communications through more of such summits.

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The meeting in Mahabalipuram, however, is preceded by statements made by the Chinese leader which may be viewed as awkward ahead of such high-level talks.

Xi Jinping, at a meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday, said that China would support Pakistan on issues related to its "core interests". A joint statement released after their meeting declared that the "Kashmir issue is a dispute left from history, and should be properly and peacefully resolved based on the UN Charter", adding that China is "paying close attention to the current situation in Jammu & Kashmir".

The students at the Chennai school also waved the national flags of India and China. (PTI image)

New Delhi responded hours later. "India's position has been consistent and clear that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. China is well aware of our position. It is not for other countries to comment on the internal affairs of India," said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar. 

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U.S. lawmakers vow support for Taiwan and its president after China's military drills

The Associated Press

In this photo released by the Taiwan Presidential Office, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, right, puts on a cowboy hat given by Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, during a Monday meeting in Taipei, Taiwan. A U.S. congressional delegation met Taiwan's new leader on Monday in a show of support shortly after China held drills around the self-governing island in response to his inauguration speech. AP/Taiwan Presidential Office via AP hide caption

TAIPEI, Taiwan — A U.S. congressional delegation met Taiwan's new leader on Monday in a show of support days after China held drills around the self-governing island in response to his inauguration.

Rep. Andy Barr, the co-chair of the Taiwan caucus in the U.S. Congress, said the United States is fully committed to supporting Taiwan militarily, diplomatically and economically.

"There should be no doubt, there should be no skepticism in the United States, Taiwan or anywhere in the world, of American resolve to maintain the status quo and peace in the Taiwan Strait," the Republican from Kentucky said at a news conference in the capital, Taipei, after the delegation met Taiwan President Lai Ching-te.

China launches military drills surrounding Taiwan

China regards Taiwan as a renegade province that must come under its control, by force if necessary. The U.S., like most countries, does not have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan but is bound by its own laws to provide the island with the means to defend itself.

The Chinese government expressed strong opposition to the congressional visit, saying it undermined China-U.S. relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, referring to the waterway between China and Taiwan.

The lawmakers' five-day visit "ran against the political commitment of the U.S. government to maintain only unofficial relations with Taiwan, sending a seriously wrong signal to the separatist force of Taiwan independence," Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said in Beijing.

Lai, who took office one week ago, is expected to continue the policies of Tsai Ing-wen, his predecessor from the same Democratic Progressive Party.

The new foreign minister, Lin Chia-lung, noted the recent Chinese drills and called the American delegation's visit "an important gesture of solidarity" at a critical time.

The delegation included four Republicans and two Democrats and was led by Rep. Michael McCaul, the chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Last year, China sanctioned the Texas Republican after he visited Taiwan in April.

"America is and always will be a reliable partner, and no amount of coercion or intimidation will slow down or stop the routine visits by the Congress to Taiwan," he said.

McCaul cited congressional approval last month of a military aid bill for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. China firmly opposes the U.S. arming Taiwan, Mao said.

The other delegation members were Republicans Young Kim from California and Joe Wilson from South Carolina and Democrats Jimmy Panetta from California and Chrissy Houlahan from Pennsylvania.

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Kenyan President’s State Visit: An Antidote to U.S. Troubles in Africa?

The White House is hosting President William Ruto of Kenya for a state dinner this week, an embrace that both countries urgently need.

By Declan Walsh

Reporting from Nairobi, Kenya

As other African nations move away from the United States, disillusioned with democracy or lured by rival powers, President William Ruto of Kenya arrives in Washington on Wednesday for a three-day state visit intended to showcase a stalwart American ally on the continent.

A spate of military coups , shaky elections and raging wars have upended Africa’s political landscape in the past year, giving an edge to American rivals like Russia and China, but also shredding Washington’s key selling point: that democracy delivers.

In Niger, a recently installed military junta has asked American troops to leave . Relations with once-firm American allies like South Africa and Ethiopia are decidedly cool. A recent election in Senegal , long considered a beacon of stability, nearly went off the rails .

Mr. Ruto, the Biden administration hopes, is the antidote to those troubles.

Since he came to power two years ago, Mr. Ruto, 57, has pulled Kenya, the economic powerhouse of East Africa, ever closer to the United States. His visit is just the sixth state visit hosted by the Biden administration, and the first for an African president since 2008.

In some respects, President Biden is atoning for a broken promise. At a high profile Africa summit in Washington in December 2022, Mr. Biden declared he was “all in” on Africa, and pledged to make a visit to the continent in the following year. The trip never materialized.

In choosing Mr. Ruto, the Biden administration is confirming that it views the Kenyan leader as one of its closest security, diplomatic and economic partners in Africa.

The two countries cooperate closely to fight militants with Al Shabab in Somalia. American corporate giants like Google have sizable operations in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, which is also a hub of diplomatic efforts to end the chaos in neighboring countries like Sudan, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Very soon, Kenya is expected to start deploying 1,000 paramilitary police officers to help quell unrest Haiti — a dangerous mission largely funded by the United States and one which runs significant political risks for Mr. Ruto if Kenyan personnel are injured or killed.

And Mr. Ruto has adroitly garnered American support for his outspoken advocacy on global issues like debt relief, reform of international financial institutions and climate change, on which he is attempting to carve out a reputation as Africa’s leading statesman.

“We live the nightmare of climate change every day,” he said in an interview with The New York Times on Sunday, hours before he flew to the United States. Nearly 300 Kenyans died in the past month as heavy rains lashed the country , causing floods that forced hundreds of thousands from their homes.

“A year ago we were deep in drought,” he said during the interview, speaking in an open pavilion next to State House, his official residence in Nairobi, as thunder rolled and more rain fell. “This is the case of many countries on the continent.”

It’s not many years since Mr. Ruto was considered part of the problem in Kenya. A decade ago he was on trial at the International Criminal Court , facing accusations of orchestrating post-election violence that left over 1,100 Kenyans dead. At the trial, his lawyer was Karim Khan, currently the court’s prosecutor. The United States backed the prosecution, seeing it as a chance to end impunity in Kenya’s political class.

But the trial collapsed in 2016, after witnesses disappeared or changed their testimony, and Mr. Ruto’s electoral triumphs eclipsed the trial at home: He was elected vice-president in 2013 and 2018, and then president in 2022.

“So much was said about who we were in that episode,” he said, referring also to former President Uhuru Kenyatta who faced similar charges. “But doesn’t it strike you that finally we were elected by the same people we were being accused of harming? That tells you the whole narrative was false.”

An American official, who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said that Mr. Ruto had been privately urged to confront indirectly what was described as his “I.C.C. hangover” early into his visit. At his first speech on Monday, at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Museum and Library in Atlanta, he vowed to keep Kenya “on the path of an open society, strongly committed to greater accountability and transparency, with robust engagement of civil society.”

Mr. Ruto also needs the trip to succeed. As he has made about 50 foreign trips since 2022, gathering support for his ideas, his popularity at home has plunged. Faced with a crippling debt crisis — Kenya owes about $77 billion — Mr. Ruto introduced tax hikes that brought cries of protest from his citizens.

Some Kenyans call him “Zakayo,” in reference to the biblical tax collector Zacchaeus. The reference makes him smile. “I have been very candid with the people of Kenya that I cannot continue to borrow money,” he said, predicting he would eventually win over his critics.

Still, time is running short, and Mr. Ruto’s big idea for turning around the economy is to ride the wave of green energy. Over 90 percent of Kenya’s energy comes from renewable sources — mostly wind and geothermal springs — a natural advantage Mr. Ruto hopes to leverage to convert Kenya into an industrial powerhouse.

He wants foreign companies to move to Kenya, where their products would be carbon neutral. He is also selling Kenya as an enormous carbon sink, tapping into the nascent industry of sucking carbon from the atmosphere, then burying it deep in the rock formations of the Rift Valley.

“ How do we move Africa from a continent of potential to a continent of opportunity and finally to a continent of investment?” he said. Last month, Microsoft and two other firms announced they were building a 1 gigawatt data center, powered by renewable energy in Naivasha, 40 miles northwest of Nairobi.

Still, Mr. Ruto’s embrace of Washington and democracy are not universally popular in Africa. Disillusionment with sham elections and corrupt elites has fed young people’s support for recent military coups in countries like Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

“There is a perception that democracy hasn’t delivered, that elites which had come to power through elections were not delivering,” said Murithi Mutiga, Africa director at International Crisis Group. Yet, he added, Kenya’s example of stability and steady growth proved that while democracy can be “messy, difficult, noisy and tough,” it still works.

Mr. Ruto is scheduled to spend much of Wednesday with members of Congress. On Thursday he lays a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery before meetings with Mr. Biden and a state dinner at the White House. The pomp and prestige is a major prize for a first-term president who, critics charge, has a strong authoritarian streak.

Last year Mr. Ruto launched public attacks on judges whose rulings obstructed his policies, reviving fears he could eventually take Kenya down an authoritarian route.

And like other African leaders, he is not afraid to play the field of foreign suitors.

Last year, to American dismay, Mr. Ruto hosted President Ebrahim Raisi of Iran, who was killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday, and foreign minister Sergei V. Lavrov of Russia. In October, Mr. Ruto flew to Beijing for a three-day state visit to China.

Mr. Ruto dismissed the suggestion that he is a darling of the West, or anyone else.

“This is not about taking sides,” he said. “It’s about interests. There’s absolutely no contradiction to working with different countries. It’s just common sense.”

  More about Declan Walsh

China denounces US-UK engagement of Taiwan shortly after election of new president

China's Defense Ministry has denounced U.S. and U.K. affirmations of support for Taiwan's newly elected government shortly after the island that Beijing claims sovereignty over freely chose its new leaders

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- China’s Defense Ministry on Thursday denounced U.S. and U.K. affirmations of support for Taiwan ’s newly elected government, shortly after the island claimed by Beijing freely chose its new leaders.

Col. Wu Qian accused the United Kingdom of pursuing a “Cold War” mentality and attempting to “instigate confrontation.”

The comments Thursday came after a a U.S. congressional delegation met with Taiwan’s new leader, Lai Ching-te, on Monday in a show of support, shortly after China held drills around Taiwan in response to his inauguration speech.

Despite their lack of formal diplomatic ties — a Cold War concession to Beijing — the United States and Taiwan remain close security, cultural and political partners. Washington is Taiwan’s biggest provider of military hardware and maintains a de facto embassy on the island to underscore their strong ties.

China regularly sends navy ships and warplanes close to Taiwan to advertise its threat to use force to annex what it declares its own territory, which it often describes as a “sacred mission.” Taiwan was only made a Chinese province in 1885, and shortly afterward, became a Japanese province for 50 years until the end of World War II. It then separated from mainland China amid civil war in 1949 and was ruled under strict martial law until the late 1980s when it began to embrace full democracy.

During the U.S. congressional visit on Monday, Rep. Andy Barr, the co-chair of the Taiwan caucus in the U.S. Congress, said the United States is fully committed to supporting Taiwan militarily, diplomatically and economically.

“There should be no doubt, there should be no skepticism in the United States, Taiwan or anywhere in the world, of American resolve to maintain the status quo and peace in the Taiwan Strait,” the Republican from Kentucky said at a news conference after the delegation met with Lai.

Taiwan’s new foreign minister, Lin Chia-lung, noted the recent Chinese drills and called the American delegation’s visit “an important gesture of solidarity” at a critical time.

The delegation included both Republicans and Democrats and was led by Rep. Michael McCaul, the chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The Texas Republican was sanctioned by China last year after he visited Taiwan in April.

The other members were Republicans Young Kim from California and Joe Wilson from South Carolina, and Democrats Jimmy Panetta from California and Chrissy Houlahan from Pennsylvania.

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Egypt and China deepen cooperation during el-Sissi’s visit to Beijing

Xi Jinping met with Abdel Fattah El-Sisi ahead of the opening session of the 10th ministerial meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. The two leaders had official talks after the welcoming ceremony, and witnessed the signing of agreements on cooperations between the two countries, involving areas of Belt-and-Road initiative, science and technology, trade and investment.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, rear left, attend a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Wednesday May 29, 2024. (Tingshu Wang/Pool Photo via AP)

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Chinese President Xi Jinping and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, right, review the honour guard during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Wednesday May 29, 2024. (Tingshu Wang/Pool Photo via AP)

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, right, arrive for a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Wednesday May 29, 2024. (Tingshu Wang/Pool Photo via AP)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, 4th left, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, 2nd right, attend a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Wednesday May 29, 2024. (Tingshu Wang/Pool Photo via AP)

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi attends a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Wednesday May 29, 2024. (Tingshu Wang/Pool Photo via AP)

Chinese President Xi Jinping waits for Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi ahead of a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Wednesday May 29, 2024. (Tingshu Wang/Pool Photo via AP)

Chinese President Xi Jinping applauds during a signing ceremony with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Wednesday May 29, 2024. (Tingshu Wang/Pool Photo via AP)

School children rehearse a welcome ceremony for Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Wednesday May 29, 2024. (Tingshu Wang/Pool Photo via AP)

Chinese President Xi Jinping walks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, right, during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Wednesday May 29, 2024. (Tingshu Wang/Pool Photo via AP)

CAIRO (AP) — Egypt and China on Wednesday signed agreements deepening their cooperation during President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi’s visit to Beijing.

El-Sissi, accompanied by Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, witnessed the signing together with Chinese President Xi Jinping in a ceremony that coincided with the 10th anniversary of the Egypt-China comprehensive strategic partnership.

The Egyptian delegation discussed bilateral relations and bringing stability to the Middle East in light of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, according to a statement released by the Egyptian presidency. It gave no details.

The agreements include collaboration in China’s Belt and Road Initiative , which brings Chinese companies to build Chinese-funded transportation, energy, and infrastructure projects overseas.

China invested billions of dollars in Egyptian state projects , including the Suez Canal Economic Zone and the new Administrative Capital east of Cairo.

Investments between Egypt and China amounted to around $14 billion in 2023, compared to $16.6 billion in 2022, according to the latest data released by Egypt’s statistics agency.