On April 1st, President Li Xiaolin met with H.E. Ashok K. Kantha, Indian Ambassador to China.

Mme. Li briefed Ambassador Kantha about the development situation of the first two batches of Sino-Indian friendship cities and thanked him and the Indian Embassy for their great support in promoting the twinning of friendship-city relations and enhancing exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and Indian local authorities. She expressed the willingness to sign the third batch of Sino-Indian friendship-city agreements and hold the Forum of Leaders of the Regions of India and China during Indian Prime Minister Modi’s visit to China in May. She also hoped to sign the MoU between the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and the China International Friendship Cities Association during the Forum.

Ambassador Kantha spoke highly of CPAFFC’s efforts on developing China-India people-to-people friendship and the local contacts between the two countries. He pointed out that Modi’s visit in May is his first official visit to China since he took office as Indian Prime Minister and the Indian side pays great importance to the visit. Exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and Indian local authorities is an important part of the visit. The Indian Embassy will facilitate the signing of the third batch of Sino-Indian friendship-city agreements during Modi’s visit and is willing to help invite Indian Chief Ministers and Mayors to attend the Forum.