PM Modi receives warm welcome in Tianjin, China (Image credits: X @narendramodi)
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a warm and enthusiastic welcome from the Indian diaspora as he arrived in Tianjin, China, on Saturday for a two-day official visit to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit. This is his first visit to China in seven years.At Binhai International Airport, PM Modi was greeted with a red carpet reception by senior officials from both India and China.Later, when he arrived at the hotel, members of the Indian community welcomed him with chants of “Bharat Mata ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram.” The reception also featured vibrant cultural performances, including Kathak and Odissi dances, along with classical music on the sitar, santoor and tabla. Many of the Chinese performers have been learning Indian classical art forms for years.Sharing moments from the reception, PM Modi posted on X, “China’s Indian community accorded a very special welcome in Tianjin. Here are some glimpses.” Several performers expressed their excitement after meeting the Prime Minister. Odissi dancer Zhang Jinghui said, “I felt a little nervous but it is a great honour for me and my crew… He asked me where I learned this. I learned from India and my guruji is Sanchita Bhattacharyaa from Kolkata.”Zhuang Jing, who played the tabla, added, “It was so exciting. I think we did our best. I think the PM liked our classical music. It was an honour. He is such a nice person, I had never expected,” as quoted by ANI.Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong also extended greetings, writing on X, “Warmly welcome Prime Minister Modi to China to attend #SCOsummit. Confident that this visit will inject new momentum into #China-India relations.”The SCO Summit holds particular significance for India as it takes place in the backdrop of fresh U.S. tariffs, including a 25 per cent duty imposed on New Delhi for its purchase of Russian crude oil.This is also Prime Minister Modi’s first visit to China since the Galwan Valley clashes of 2020. In recent months, both countries have taken steps to ease tensions and improve ties, such as resuming trade through the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand, Shipki La Pass in Himachal Pradesh, and Nathu La Pass in Sikkim.
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