Bonhomie on display as PM Modi hosts Xi Jinping for second informal summit: Highlights

* Chinese President Xi Jinping was accorded a red carpet welcome at the Chennai airport today and was treated to Tamil cultural performances by folk dancers as well as Bharatanatyam artistes while scores of children greeted him by waving Indian and Chinese flags. He later drove to seaside resort town of Mamallapuram for his informal summit with PM Modi.
* PM Modi, who had reached Mamallapuram ahead of Xi by a chopper, received the Chinese leader at the Arjuna's Penance monument.Donning a striking Tamil traditional 'karai veshti' (dhoti with a border in green), angavastram (a shawl), and a half sleeve white shirt, the Prime Minister shook hands with Xi as the two leaders exchanged pleasantries. PM Modi's outfit drew praise from several quarters, with Pattali Makkal Katchi S Ramadoss and Karnataka culture and tourism minister C T Ravi hailing PM for promoting the local culture.


* The two leaders proceeded to take a tour of the iconic relief structure Arjuna's Penance, an intricately carved ancient sculpture dating back to the Pallava dynasty and Krishna's Butter Ball - a big round boulder perched on a slope. Later, the Prime Minister offered a tender coconut to the visiting foreign dignitary and the two leaders relished the drink at the magnificent Panch Rathas complex.


* PM Modi and Xi then enjoyed a thrilling cultural performance at the centuries-old Shore Temple, basking in the rich heritage of India. The programme showcased the Indian classical dance forms of Kathakali and Bharatnatyam to fast-paced Carnatic music, highlighting the region's magnificent roots.
* After the cultural gala, the Prime Minister hosted Xi for a scrumptious dinner comprising sambhar, a mouthwatering south Indian recipe made of lentils and also a favourite of the Tamils, besides other delicacies. The meal also included 'thakkali rasam,' made of tomato and 'imli' and 'kadalai (chick pea, generally) korma', besides halwa as the premier dessert.
* The Prime Minister gifted Xi a Nachiarkoil - a branched Annam Lamp and a Thanjavur painting of dancing Saraswathi. The lamp is exclusively made in Nachiarkoil town by the local community known as Pathers. The painting is three-feet high, four-feet wide, weighs about 40 kgs and took 45 days to complete.

* The meeting between the two leaders is a follow up to the inaugural summit which was held in Wuhan from April 27 to 28 last year. "Taking forward the Wuhan Spirit, the Mahabalipuram meet will provide an opportunity to the Chinese President and PM Modi to continue their discussions on overarching issues of bilateral, regional and global importance and to exchange views on deepening India-China Closer Development Partnership," the external affairs ministry had said in a statement.
* On Saturday, the two leaders will have a one-on-one meeting at the Fisherman's Cove resort which will be followed up by delegation-level talks. After the talks, Modi will host a lunch for Xi, and the Chinese leader will leave for Chennai airport at 12.45 pm. PM Modi and Xi will engage for a total period of six hours during their two-day summit.