Deals worth $10 billion likely to be sealed between India, China on day two of Modi's visit

Beijing : After the cultural treat on day one of his visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang in Beijing on Friday. Deals worth $10 billion are likely to be sealed between India and China

Modi began his day by visiting the symbolic Great Hall of People where he received a traditional welcome. He will also address students at Beijing's prestigious Ching-hua University.A visit to the famous Temple of Heaven is also on the itinerary where Modi and Li will witness the much anticipated Yoga-TaiChi event.

However, all eyes will be on the signing of key agreements which will be followed by a joint press address later in the day.

There are a host of issues between India and China including the border issue, river water issues, cyber espionage among several others.

On day one of his three-day visit, Modi held "very substantive" discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping focusing on strengthening of mutual trust and the boundary issue.

On his first visit to China since assuming office in 2014, Modi was warmly greeted by Xi, who set aside protocol to receive a foreign dignitary outside Beijing in replay of the Indian leader's gesture in September 2014 when he welcomed the Chinese President in Ahmedabad.

While briefing about the 90-minute delegation-level talks, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said the meeting between the two leaders covered subjects ranging from political, economic and global issues like terrorism, UNSC reforms and India's membership of Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

"On the political side, there was a lot of discussion on strengthening trust and increasing convergence," he said.

The boundary issue has been a sticking point in the relations between the two major Asian countries and both are making efforts to settle it through Special Representatives' talks. The Special Representatives have held 18 rounds of discussions so far.

Talking about the atmospherics at the meeting, the third in a year between Modi and the all-powerful Xi, who is also the General Secretary of the Communist Party, Jaishankar said, "the atmosphere was very comfortable. So, in the sense it was building on the chemistry between the two of them which started last September."