PM Modi arrives in China to attend SCO summit

PM Modi arrived in China's eastern port city of Qingdao today to attend the 18th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit with Pakistan also in attendance.

Modi was welcomed by Chinese officials and he also received a guard of honour upon his arrival at the airport.

Although PM Modi is not slated to meet Pakistan leaders officially, but he may meet them unofficially, according to India's Ambassador to China Gautam Bambawale.

Before leaving for the summit, the Indian prime minister said he would be discussing "terrorism, separatism and extremism" with other leaders, including "commerce, customs, law, health and agriculture".

During the summit, PM Modi will be holding bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping which would be their second meeting after Wuhan where the two leaders had met for an "informal summit".

SCO members India, Pakistan, China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan are expected to sign the Qingdao Declaration which aims to resist global terror activities.

Established in Shanghai in 2001, the SCO accounts for over 60 per cent of the Eurasian landmass, nearly half of the world's population. The summit aims to make joint efforts to maintain and ensure peace, security and stability in the region including promotion of trade, research and technology.

The summit will conclude on Sunday.