Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping discuss new Belt and Road investment in bilateral talks
Today, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping meet in Wuhan City, China to begin an unexpected two-day bilateral summit. They are expected to address increased investment in India as part of the Belt and Road Initiative and border disputes that have damaged their relationship.
Many expect that China will announce a series of new Indian investment initiatives towards the end of the summit. While still suspicious of Belt and Road, India will be looking to capitalise on recent Chinese investment in the region that has largely gone to neighbouring Pakistan. Any investment announcement is likely to be tied to Belt and Road logistics infrastructure and possibly telecommunications investment.
With the summit coming after last year’s border dispute on the India-China-Bhutan tri-junction border, both leaders will be looking to use renewed economic cooperation as a way to boost the bilateral relationship. Both are likely to recognise that increased economic cooperation and a new attempt to reset relations will be key in defusing tensions.
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