DHAKA: Indian prime minister Narendra Modi invited Chinese president Xi Jinping on Thursday to visit, seeking greater engagement between the world's two most populous nations on trade and regional security.
Modi extended the invitation when he spoke by telephone with Chinese premier Li Keqiang, who had called to congratulate him on his victory in India’s general election.
The ministry of external affairs said in a statement, reports The Straits Times.
The Hindu nationalist won election by a landslide, ending a decade of rule by the Congress party that for most of the time since Indian independence in 1947 has been associated with a policy of non-alignment.
Li ‘conveyed the Chinese government’s desire to establish robust partnership’ with India’s new government, the statement said.
BDST: 1734 HRS, MAY 29, 2014
