Sea-side diplomacy, coconut water and candid chats: What happened when China's Xi Jinping met PM Modi in India for informal summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping for a two-day informal summit in Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram), Tamil Nadu in October 2019. This meeting — the second of its kind after their 2018 summit in Wuhan — aimed to ease tensions, foster dialogue, and build personal rapport between the two leaders amid growing friction along the Line of Actual Control (LAC)

During the informal summit in Mahabalipuram on October 11, 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping at the historic Pancha Rathas complex. In a gesture highlighting Indian tradition, Modi was seen wearing a veshti as the two leaders aimed to ease tensions that rose after Doklam standoff in 2017 and strengthen ties.

That viral moment of camaraderie between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping captured global attention—both leaders were seen casually sipping fresh coconut water at the serene Pancha Rathas complex in Mahabalipuram.

Chinese President Xi Jinping had said he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had "heart-to-heart" and "candid discussions like friends" on bilateral ties during the summit

The deadly clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 deeply impacted the relationship between the two countries. This event escalated military tensions and prompted a reassessment of diplomatic interactions. Consequently, India and China has not scheduled any formal summit between the top leaders so far, highlighting the difficulties in sustaining communication

India and China are actively working to reset their bilateral relations amid Trump's tariff war. PM Modi will attend the upcoming SCO summit in China. Though no bilateral meet has been planned so far, the visit will be tracked closely and might be significant in strengthening a new era of India-China ties