Gangtok, Apr 23 () The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and border trade between India and China through the Nathula pass will not take place this year due to the coronavirus outbreak, Sikkim Tourism Minister B S Panth said. The border trade through Nathula Pass was scheduled to begin in May while the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through the route was slated to commence in June. The Ministry of External Affairs organises the yatra from June-September each year through two different routes -- Lipulekh Pass (Uttarakhand) and Nathu La Pass (Sikkim). Kailash Mansoravar is in Tibet.The yatra is undertaken by hundreds of people every year.Panth told reporters on Wednesday that the state government has communicated its decision to the Centre.The Nathula border trade between India and Chinaresumed in 2006 after a gap of more than four decades while the annual Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through the pass had begun two years ago."Sikkim's tourism sector has been severely hit due tothe coronavirus outbreak, with the state government losing out revenue of more than Rs 10 crore," the minister said.The loss of revenue is due to the ban on entry ofdomestic and foreign tourists to the state since the firstweek of March in view of the coronavirus outbreak, he said.The state government is assessing the losses incurred by various stakeholders due to COVID-19 and will send a report to the Centre, requesting it to adequately compensate all those who have lost business and livelihood due to disruption in tourism-related activities in Sikkim, the minister said. KDK ACD DVDV

COVID-19: Sikkim not to host Mansarovar Yatra, border trade through Nathula Pass

Jaipur, Apr 16 () Curfew was imposed in a particular section of Mansarover area in Rajasthan's Jaipur on Thursday, a day after a doctor living in the locality tested positive for coronavirus, police said. Apart from Mansarover, curfew is already imposed in the walled city, Bhatta basti, Shastri nagar, Adarsh nagar, Lalkothi, Kho-nagorian, Vidhayakpuri, Chitrakoot and Transport Nagar area of the city, police said. "Drones are being used to monitor the situation in the areas where the curfew is imposed," police said. People who have come in contact with those who have tested positive for COVID-19 have been kept in 12 quarantine centres. On the other hand, 10,845 vehicles have been seized and 257 people arrested for violating lockdown norms in the city so far.The cyber cell of the Jaipur police is also engaged in identifying those who spread rumours on social media about the pandemic and action against those will be taken, the police added. SDA TDSTDS

Curfew in section of Jaipur's Mansarovar area after doctor tests COVID-19 positive

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/35105963.cms" /> People of Jaipur are all set to enjoy the metro ride as <keyword id="54030" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Jaipur-Metro">Jaipur Metro</keyword> is likely to start its commercial operations by August this year, according to official sources. 
 Its trial run on the Mansarovar-Chandpole route is likely to take place in July, Jaipur Metro Rail Corporation’s (<keyword id="391913" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="JMRC">JMRC</keyword>) chief managing director, NC Goyal, said. 
 
The railway’s Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) has set a speed limit of 80 km per hour for the city's metro, he added. 
The commissioner of Metro Railway Safety will give the clearance after receiving JMRC's report on the first phase, as well as the roadmap for the trial run and the commercial operation, said Goyal. He also added that it might take 15-30 days in getting the approval. 
 
JMRC has, till now, spent Rs 1,800 crore on the first phase of the development, he said. 
 Former chief minister, <keyword id="49103" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Ashok-Gehlot">Ashok Gehlot</keyword>, had flagged off the trial run between <keyword id="6380599" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Mansarovar">Mansarovar</keyword> and Shyam Nagar in September 2013. JMRC has now completed the civil, mechanical and electrical works on the Mansarovar-Chandpole route. 
Image: Thinkstock

Jaipur Metro May Operate From August This
Year

China has increased its <keyword id="1729943" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="troop-deployment">troop deployment</keyword> near Lipulekh, the place that became a trigger for strained relations between New Delhi and Kathmandu. Lipulekh is tri-junction between India, Nepal and China situated atop the Kalapani Valley in Uttarakhand. <div type="image" title="5b429d90a565c415c93857fd7fe4e7e0" msid="77647047" hostid="261"></div> Sources said that China has deployed 150 <keyword id="9789794" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="light-combined-arms-brigade">Light Combined Arms Brigade</keyword>. The brigade was moved in two weeks ago from Tibet towards the Lipulekh tri-junction in China. The Indian authorities have came to know two weeks ago that Chinese troops were reinforced in Pala, around 10 km from the border. In July itself, around 1,000 troops were deployed near Pala and a permanent post was built there by China. "A fortnight back, 2,000 more additional troops were deployed at the post," sources said. India's road construction to Lipulekh lake at 17,000 feet had sparked a diplomatic row between the India and Nepal as Kathmandu claimed the area to be its territory. The road will shorten the travel time for pilgrims visiting the Kailash Mansarovar. Nepal also brought out a new political map showing the contested area as its own. India and China are locked in a more than three-month-long standoff at multiple points, hitherto unprecedented along the border. China had changed the status quo on <keyword id="9262087" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="the-line-of-actual-control">the Line of Actual Control</keyword> at various places, moving inside Indian territories. India has objected to it and is taking up the matter with China at all levels. China has built up troops, artillery and armour in three sectors of Line of Actual Control -- western (Ladakh), middle (Uttarakhand, Himachal) and eastern (Sikkim, Arunachal). The border tension between India and China has not been resolved despite several rounds of military and diplomatic talks. China's commitment for disengagement at the border in Eastern Ladakh remains unsatisfactory and India has directed its armed forces to prepare for a long haul. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/kepler-supernova-exploded-400-years-ago-but-hasnt-slowed-down-and-two-pieces-of-debris-are-headed-towards-earth/articleshow/77646381.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Kepler supernova exploded 400 years ago but hasn’t slowed down — and two pieces of debris are headed towards Earth</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/retail/news/heres-how-reliance-retail-stacks-up-against-some-of-its-global-peers-walmart-and-tesco/articleshow/77646302.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Here’s how Reliance Retail stacks up against some of its global peers – Walmart and Tesco</a>

China increases troop deployment near Lipulekh Pass

Visiting <keyword id="78682" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-army-chief">Indian Army Chief</keyword> <keyword id="8457212" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="general-Manoj-Mukund-Naravane">General Manoj Mukund Naravane</keyword> on Thursday held a meeting with his Nepali counterpart General Purna Chandra Thapa during which they discussed ways to enhance bilateral defence cooperation. In a solemn ceremony earlier in the day, General Naravane laid a wreath on the 'Veer Smarak' at the Army Pavilion in Tundikhel, Kathmandu, following which he visited the Nepali Army Headquarters and was accorded with a ceremonial Guard of Honour. At the headquarters, he held the meeting with General Thapa, during which the Indian Army chief was also given a comprehensive briefing by senior officers of the Nepali Army. Also on Thursday, Naravane handed over various medical equipment to the Nepal Army, which included X-Ray machines, computed radiography systems, ICU ventilators, video endoscopy units, anesthesia machines, laboratory equipment and ambulances. Additional ventilators were also gifted to assist the Nepali Army in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic. This follows an earlier army-to-army provision of ventilators in July this year. Later in the day, Naravane will receive the honorary rank of general of Nepal Army on Thursday, which will be conferred to him by President Bidhya Devi Bhandari during a function in the President's Office, according to the Nepal Army. Nepal and India have a historic tradition of conferring the honorary title to each other's army chief since 1950. He will be the 18th Indian Army Chief to be conferred with the title. General Naravane is also scheduled to hold talks with the President later. The Indian Army chief landed in Kathmandu on Wednesday for a three-day official visit to Nepal, on the invitation of General Thapa. He was received at the airport by Lieutenant General Prabhu Ram Sharma, CGS Nepali Army and officials of the Indian Embassy. The ties between the two countries came under strain recently after China increased its influence on Nepal. It was India's road construction to the Lipulekh area at 17,000 feet that sparked a diplomatic row between India and Nepal as Kathmandu claimed the area to be its territory. The road was constructed to shorten the travel time for pilgrims visiting the Kailash Mansarovar. Lipulekh is a tri-junction between India, Nepal and China situated atop the Kalapani Valley in Uttarakhand. After this, Nepal brought out a new political map showing the contested area as its own. India has rejected this new map of Nepal saying it is not based on historical facts or evidence. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/rbi-and-indian-banks-wait-as-supreme-court-adjourns-loan-moratorium-hearing-to-november-18/articleshow/79057919.cms">RBI and banks caught in the crosshairs as the Supreme Court adjourns loan moratorium hearing for a second time to November 18</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/sbi-share-price-rises-over-6-after-strong-earnings-with-analysts-pegging-it-to-be-the-first-to-recover-among-public-sector-banks/articleshow/79055329.cms">SBI rallies over 6% after strong earnings with analysts pegging it to be the first to recover among public sector banks</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/foreign-policy/news/donald-trump-vs-joe-biden-us-election-result-and-relations-with-india-and-pm-modi/articleshow/79022098.cms">If Joe Biden wins, he’ll be the third US president to deal with Modi — Here’s how that could play out</a>

Indian and Nepal discuss enhancing bilateral defence cooperation during Indian Army Chief Naravane's three-day visit

Amid border tension at eastern Ladakh, <keyword id="9949871" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="chinese-construction-activities">Chinese construction activities</keyword> were observed near the border at Uttarakhand. "Hut-like structures on the Chinese side, very close to Tinkar-Lipu pass of Nepal, were observed," sources said on Wednesday. "It was also found that China is engaged in construction activities in Chinese side of the General Area of Jojo village, Champa Maidan. The Jojo village is approximately seven to eight kilometres from Tinkar-Lipu pass of Nepal," said sources. Indian security agencies are now keeping close watch on movements of Chinese People's Liberation Army troops near Uttarakhand borders touching Nepal. With escalation in India and China border tension, Indian intelligence had flagged earlier that the Nepal government has directed its forces to "closely monitor" the activities of <keyword id="6354416" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Army">Indian Army</keyword> at Lipulekh area. Lipulekh is a tri-junction between India, Nepal and China situated atop the Kalapani Valley in Uttarakhand. Nepal government's Ministry of Home Affairs issued directions to Nepalese Armed Police Force (NAPF) to closely monitor Indian Army activities in the general area of Lipulekh. Further at Lipulekh, 44 battalion of the NAPF have been deployed. It was also found that China has increased its troop deployment at Lipulekh. China has deployed 150 Light Combined Arms Brigade. The brigade was moved in August from towards the Lipulekh tri-junction. They have reinforced troops in Pala, around 10 km from the border. It was India's road construction to the Lipulekh area at 17,000 feet that had sparked a diplomatic row between India and Nepal as Kathmandu claimed the area to be its territory. The road was aimed at shortening the travel time for pilgrims visiting the Kailash Mansarovar. Following this, Nepal brought out a new political map showing the contested area as its own. Nepal is also constructing more than 200 new border posts at Indo-Nepal border. Currently, Nepal has 130 permanent border posts. India and China are locked in a more than four-month-long standoff at multiple points, hitherto unprecedented along the border. China had changed the status quo on the Line of Actual Control at various places, moving inside Indian territories. India has objected to it and is taking up the matter with China at all levels. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/economy/news/rbi-governor-shaktikanta-das-speech-highlights-on-16-september-2020/articleshow/78143035.cms">RBI Governor highlights five key areas that will determine India's growth in the post-COVID world</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/gadgets/news/apple-watch-series-6-ipad-air-ipad-8-and-apple-one-will-be-available-in-india/slidelist/78141813.cms">Apple Watch Series 6, iPad Air, iPad 8, and Apple One will be available in India — here’s how much they cost</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/amid-india-china-standoff-tencent-is-back-with-an-investment-in-flipkart/articleshow/78140794.cms">Amid India-China standoff, Tencent is back with an investment in Flipkart</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/-indias-surging-covid-19-infections-is-testing-the-health-infra-once-again/articleshow/78143000.cms">India’s surging COVID-19 infections is testing the health infra once again — beds added during lockdown aren’t enough</a>

Chinese 'hut-like' structures spotted near Uttarakhand border

Delhi has 84 containment zones— here’s a list of all of them

These are the 43 Coronavirus ‘red zones’ in Delhi

<ul><li>There are now 122 <keyword id="8959677" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="containment-zones">containment zones</keyword> in <keyword id="66" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Delhi">Delhi</keyword>.</li><li>The highest containment zones are in the North district at 24. The South East has 17 containment zones while the South district has 12 zones.</li><li>While other parts of the city may have some relaxation from the <keyword id="91743" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="lockdown">lockdown</keyword>, these containment zones have strict rules in place until June 30, as per Ministry of Home Affairs. </li></ul>The Delhi government has identified 20 new containment zones, taking the total number of containment zones across 11 districts to 122 as of May 21.Among the 20 new containment zones, one is in East, three in North, three in south-east and 13 in West zone. The <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1266750150153629696">highest containment zones are in the North distric</a>t at 24. The South East has 17 containment zones while the South district has 12 zones. While other parts of the city may have some relaxation from the lockdown, these containment zones have strict rules in place until June 30, as per Ministry of Home Affairs. This comes as Delhi witnessed a record single-day spike with 1295 fresh cases which pushed the total tally close to 20,000. As of May 30, the total number of cases reported in Delhi are 19,844, of which 8075 are active. According to the Delhi health department, 473 people have died due to <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword>. Despite continuous increase in coronavirus cases, the Delhi government has suggested to open markets, malls and other non-essential services in the national capital on an odd even basis. Here’s the full list of containment zones in Delhi: <ul><li>Entire affected street near Gandhi Park, Malviya Nagar</li><li>Entire affected street of Gali No 5, 6 &amp; 7, L 1 Sangam Vihar, New Delhi</li><li>The affected area around House number A-176, Deoli Extension, New Delhi</li><li>Shop No J-4/49, Khirki Extension, Khirki Village, New Delhi</li><li>Jain Moholla, Pandit Mohalla from Epic Centre 715, Chirag Delhi</li><li>Boundary starting from B-4/200 and covering the whole locality till backside of Humayun lane includes, Ashiana complex and B-4/206 Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi. </li><li>House number 50, Hauz Rani, New Delhi from Mother Dairy to back corner of Raja Ram Mohan School, Hauz Rani, New Delhi</li><li>Entire effected area around house number 859/20, L-II, Sangam Vihar, New Delhi</li><li>House number 153/B, 4th floor, Savitri Nagar, Malviya Nagar, New Delhi</li><li>Gali number 2, 3 &amp; 4, Devli Extension, Delhi</li><li>F-313, Near Shiva Mandir Lado Sarai and F-274, 2nd Floor of Lado Sarai, New Delhi</li><li>F-258, Campa Cola Gali Lado Sarai, New Delhi</li><li>Entire affected area of Samshi Talab, Mehrauli (Lake of View Apartment's A-3 included)</li><li>Shahjahanabad society, plot no 1, Sector 11, Dwarka</li><li>Dinpur Village</li><li>Gali number 5 &amp; 5A, H-2 Block, Bengali Colony, Mahavir Enclave</li><li>C-2, Block, Janakpuri, Kothi Number- 119</li><li>Plot No.-1294, Sonu Yadav Ka Makkan, Theke Wali Gali, Opposite DC Office Kapashera, Delhi</li><li>RZF-756/7, Gali number 1 Band, Raj Nagar II Dwarka, New Delhi</li><li>Markaz Masjid and Nizamuddin Basti</li><li>Nizamuddin West (G and D block) areas</li><li>Area of Street/Gali number 18 to 22 of Zakir Nagar and nearby area of Abu Bakar Masjid of Zakir Nagar 10 (Core) rest of Zakir Nagar as Buffer Zone</li><li>House number 811 to 829 and 842 to 835 - Khadda Colony, Jaitpur, Extension, Part-II</li><li>House number 1144 to 1134 and 618 to 623 - Khadda Colony, Jaitpur, Extension, Part-II</li><li>Gali number 16, Kachhi Colony, Madanpur Khadar, Extension, Delhi</li><li>Mehela Mohalla, Madanpur Khadar, Delhi</li><li>H-Block, Near Umra Masjid, Abu Fazal Enclave</li><li>House number 97 to 107 and house number 120-127 Kailash Hills, East of Kailash</li><li>House number 53 to 55 &amp; 25, Shera Mohalla, Garhi, East of Kailash</li><li>Gali number 1, 2 &amp;3, block D, Sangam Vihar, house number 112B, Gali Number 2, New Delhi</li><li>Entire gali starting from house number G-54 to F-107 &amp; entire Gali starting from house number CN-854 to house number 137, Chhurriya Mohalla, Tughlakabad Village, Delhi.</li><li>Gali number 6, A Block, Abu Fazal Enclave, Shaheen Bagh, Delhi.</li><li>35. Gali number 26 &amp; 26B, house number 2056 to 2092 &amp; Gali number 27 and 27B, house number 2063 to 2083, Tughlakabad Extension, Delhi.</li><li>(Whole Gali house number 48 to Chaupal), A block, Khizrabad, New Friends Colony, Delhi</li><li>Gali number 24 to 28, Tughlakabad Extension, Delhi (Core Area) (Added in Gali Number 26 &amp; 26B, house number 2056 to 2092 &amp; Gali number 27 and 27B, house number 2063 to 2083, Tughlakabad Extension, Delhi)</li><li>House number F-138 &amp; F-139, Gali number 1 (Shiv Mandir Wali Gali), Harsh Vihar, Hari Nagar Extension, Delhi</li><li>B Block Jhangirpuri</li><li>Gali number 1 to 10 (1 to 1000) C Block Jhangirpuri</li><li>1100 Wali Gali (House number 1181-1200), 1200 Wali Gali (House number 1238-1268), 1300 Wali Gali (House number 1306-1331), H-3 Block, Jhangirpuri, Delhi</li><li>G, H and I Block, Police Colony, Model Town, Delhi</li><li>House number 716 to 785, house number 786 to 860, house number 861 to 950 K-Block, Jahangirpuri, Delhi</li><li>G-Block, Jahangirpuri, Delhi</li><li>Flat number- 265 to 500 Sanjay Enclave, Jahangirpuri, Delhi</li><li>House number 141 to house number 180, Gali number 14, Kalyanpuri</li><li>3 Galis of Khichripur including Gali containing house number 5/387 Khichripur, Delhi</li><li>Gali number 9, Pandav Nagar, Delhi 110092</li><li>Mayurdhwaj Apartments, IP Extension, Patparganj</li><li>Gali number 4, from house number J- 3/115 (Nagar Dairy) to house number J- 3/108 (towards Anar wali Masjid Chowk), Kishan Kunj Extension</li><li>Gali Number 4, from house number J- 3/101 to house number J - 3/107 Krishan Kunj Extension</li><li>Gali number 5, A Block (From house number A- 176 to A-189), West Vinod Nagar Delhi 110092</li><li>House number 300, Gali number 3 Krishna Puri, Main Road Mandawali, Delhi to house number 739/16, Gali number 3 Krishna Puri, Main Road Mandawali, Delhi</li><li>E-Pocket, GTB Enclave</li><li>F- 70 to 90 block Dilshad Colony</li><li>Pratapkhand, Jhilmil Colony</li><li>Gali number 3, 4 and 5 East Ram Nagar, Shahdara</li><li>House number 15 to 101 Dayanand Vihar, Delhi-92</li><li>Bengali Market/ Babar Road adjoining area of Todarmal Road, Babar Lane and School Lane, New Delhi</li><li>Israel Camp, Rangpuri Pahari, New Delhi and its adjoining Buffer Zone</li><li>65. Budh Nagar, Inderpuri, New Delhi and its adjoining Buffer Zone</li><li>EA Block, Inderpuri</li><li>Sadar Bazaar, Central District</li><li>Chandni Mahal, Central District</li><li>Nabi Karim, Central District</li><li>Bara Hindu Rao Area, Delhi</li><li>Nawab Ganj Area, Delhi</li><li>Oberoi Apartments</li><li>In and around area of G-174, Capital Greens, DLF, Motinagar, New Delhi 110015</li><li>In and around area of 11/3, 2nd Floor Ashok Nagar</li><li>In and around area of A-280, JJ Colony, Madipur</li><li>In and around area of 36/4, East Patel Nagar, Delhi 110008</li><li>In and around area of C-785, Third Floor, Camp No 2, Nangloi, Delhi</li><li>In and around area of RZ-168, K2 Block, Nihal Vihar, Delhi</li><li>In and around area of G-1, 2nd floor, Mansarovar Garden, Delhi</li><li>Tilak Vihar area in Tilak Nagar, Delhi</li><li>Entire AF Block, Shalimar Bagh, Delhi</li><li>House number 62, Gali number 4, B-Block, Shastri Park, Delhi</li><li>E-51, Main Road, Shastri Park, Delhi &amp; E-21, Gali number 8, Shastri Park, Delhi</li><li>T-606, Gali No. 18, Gautampuri, Delhi</li><li>A-97, 98 and 99, Near Buland Masjid, Shastri Park, Delhi</li><li>Gali No. 18, H.No. 701/23 to 500/36B, Vijay Park, Maujpur</li><li>Entire Street No. 9, Shalimar Village</li><li>Entire Gali No. 3, Shalimar Village</li><li>Block No. X, from H. No. 303/6, Gali No.1 to H. No. 289 Gali No. 3, Yadav Villa</li><li>Area between Kumhar Gali and Chaupal Chawk in Kotla Mubarakpur</li><li>Gali No. 3, 4, 5 in Majlis Park</li><li>H. No. P-65 and H.No. P-184, Pillanji Village</li><li>Entire affected area including - Nirankari Gali, Nakshatra Gali, Nala Boring Gali, Ravan Wali Gali, Jameela Masjid Baoli, Dargah Gurudwara wali Gali, Thane wali Gali and Terminal Wali Gali</li><li>House no 152 to 162 in Block D of Shaheen Bagh</li></ul>SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/delhi-metro-to-remain-shut-till-further-order/articleshow/76115619.cms">Delhi Metro to remain shut until further notice</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/remove-china-apps-races-to-1-million-downloads-within-two-weeks-as-anti-china-sentiment-gains-momentum/articleshow/76128369.cms">‘Remove China Apps’ races to 1 million downloads within two weeks as anti-China sentiment gains momentum</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/indian-developer-earns-rs-75-lakh-for-finding-sign-in-with-apple-bug/articleshow/76116612.cms">A 27-year-old Indian developer bags ₹75 lakh for reporting a critical flaw in ‘Sign in with Apple’</a>

New Delhi has 122 containment zones — here’s the entire list

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/42878242.cms" />NEW <keyword id="66" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Delhi">DELHI</keyword>: A face-off between the Indian and Chinese armies in Ladakh took the sheen off a summit that started on a promising note on the banks of the <keyword id="50476" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="sabarmati">Sabarmati</keyword> in Ahmedabad. 
 Insisting on a quick resolution of the boundary issue, PM <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> made the border crisis the dominant topic of conversation with Chinese president <keyword id="191809" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Xi-Jinping">Xi Jinping</keyword>. “We need to have a clarification on [the] LAC to maintain peaceful relations between the two countries and solve the border dispute at the earliest,” Modi told the media.? 
 <keyword id="55212" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="xi">Xi</keyword> employed the now-familiar Chinese stalling tactic, saying he’d give the relevant orders to get a better picture of what exactly was happening. But the two sides showed just how far apart they are on this issue. In his statement, the PM focused on the border crisis. Xi merely touched on it towards the end of his statement, just to say that such incidents “happen”. 
 On the other hand, <keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="80" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> and China signed a record 16 agreements where <keyword id="1333" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Beijing">Beijing</keyword> promised investments worth $20 billion in five years, a very different figure from the $100 billion indicated by Chinese officials in Mumbai a few days ago. But India opened the doors to Chinese investment in infrastructure, including upgrading railway tracks, stations and doubling the speed of trains. 
 ?Xi said China would welcome India into the <keyword id="170281" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Shanghai-Cooperation-Organization">Shanghai Cooperation Organization</keyword>, but expects India to welcome it into SAARC. India may find this difficult. China in SAARC would effectively isolate India.? As a sweetener, China offered a new road to Kailash Mansarovar through Nathu La in Sikkim.? 
 
But Modi, like Manmohan Singh before him, made peace on the border a precondition to increased cooperation. Just as the Depsang crisis in April 2013, around 1,500 Indian and Chinese troops remain eyeball to eyeball. Officials hoped the Modi-Xi dialogue might have created the conditions for a withdrawal, even as NSA Ajit Doval personally monitored the border situation. 
 
<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/42877921.cms" /> 
 
Xi’s assertion that China was committed to “peaceful development” rang hollow when later on Thursday he embarked on a charm offensive addressing a select gathering of scholars, diplomats and politicians. 
 
The “China Dream” would be possible only in a “stable, peaceful external environment, Xi said. “China has the determination to work with India through friendly consultation to settle the boundary question at an early date.... We have the sincerity to work with India to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas before we are finally able to settle the boundary question.” 
 <keyword id="46159" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Foreign-Minister">Foreign minister</keyword>, <keyword id="6355111" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Sushma-Swaraj">Sushma Swaraj</keyword> greeted Xi with “Ge xia, wo hen huanying nin dao yindu lai.” It was a part of the positive atmospherics that accompanied the Xi visit. The Chinese president reciprocated in full measure, when he quoted liberally from Rabindranath Tagore and showed his knowledge of Indian history. Modi spoke of a “new chapter”, a sentiment endorsed by Xi when he said India could look forward to a “spectacular future” under Modi.

Xi-Modi Warmth Flows From Sabarmati To Delhi

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/47188389.cms" /> Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword>’s China trip is his 17th foreign nation visit since he assumed office. Though his China tour would last only for three days---May 14th to 16th—but the attractions of his trip are countless. The list includes: thunderous speeches by public figures; the visit to Xian, hometown of Chinese Premier; the cultural hoopla-hoos in various ceremonies; the business and trade partnership during his <keyword id="1333" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Beijing">Beijing</keyword> visit and finally, and his undoubtedly charming address to the Shanghai youth. 
 
Even though the bonding between the two Asian rivals is crucial, Modi’s visit does not lead to such jaw-dropping anticipation as many might believe---or even hope for. Experts wonder how his physical trip to a historically sparring country could take issues forward to a point we want them to. 
 
To look back, both the countries have long-standing commercials, historical and ‘conflicting’ links. The clouds over their relationship continue to loom in spite of decades of effort. 
 
To begin with, the root casue of the dispute was a 3,500-km border in the Himalayas that sputtered into a war in1962 and involved large tracts. 
 
China claims that 90,000 square kilometres in the eastern sector of the Himalayas belongs to it. India considers it to be an Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, but China calls it South Tibet. India objects to China occupying 38,000 square kilometres of its land on the Aksai Chin plateau in the west. 
 
Moreover, both nations have always been military and economic competitors. Last month, India increased its defense budget by 11% to $40 billion, even though it cannot match China’s frigates or defence preparedness. 
 Chinese business penetration in the littoral states of the Indian Ocean raises some concern, so India is hoping to defuse issues. After China, Modi’s visit to Seychelles, Mauritius and then <keyword id="6355572" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sri-Lanka">Sri Lanka</keyword> would be the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in 28 years, for he hopes to “expand military as well as economic ties.” 
 
President Xi’s visit eight months back made the two countries thrash all the issues that dog them: the boundary dispute, trade, investment, market access, the maritime Silk Route, Kailash-Mansarovar... the list is endless. 
 
The joint statement between the two nations on Building a Closer Developmental Partnership was issued on September 19, 2014 after President Xi’s team went into every pettifogging issue. 
 Yet, the biggest thorn in the flesh is still stuck there. Last September, when President <keyword id="191809" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Xi-Jinping">Xi Jinping</keyword> visited India for his first summit talks with Modi, China intruded into Chumar. 
 
This year, in February, Modi’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh in order to open two development projects had China fuming again. The foreign ministry released a condemnatory press release. The Chinese vice-foreign minister thundered at the Indian ambassador that the PM had transgressed “China’s territorial sovereignty, rights and interests” and that “violates the consensus to appropriately handle the border issue”. 
Modi, not to be left out, retorted: “Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India and will always remain so…China will also have to leave behind its mindset of expansion.” 
 
Fortunately, India is also an emerging Asian giant---or at least seems to be---and China cannot afford not to play its cards, although that huge nation has a strong bond with India’s arch enemy, Pakistan, 
 
China is also wary of India’s role in setting up the ‘Quadrilateral Initiative’---a formal defence pact among India, US, Japan and Australia, effectively isolating China. There are hints that the plan would even include Central Asia, Mongolia, the Korean peninsula, and all other countries in Southeast Asia except China. 
 
Fortunately, the disputed region of Arunachal Pradesh does not parallel the Kashmir issue, which dogs the Indo-Pak relationship. While aggressive Pakistan looks at the K-problem as a “plus point”, and a driver of their terrorist, anti-India policy, China is groping for solutions. While the Chinese are as patriotically passionate about the disputed land as Indians say they are, they also recently appear willing to compromise, with a give-and-take approach. 
 
Hence, in recent days, the mood seems to have softened, with China soft-pedalling its approach, and trying to woo, rather than hard-sell its intentions. Although the Chinese want to oppose the visits to a disputed area, they do want to keep the objections moderate. 
 Experts claim that the Chinese are putting in a lot of effort to keep the border tension-free in the last five months. When <keyword id="6355111" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sushma-Swaraj">Sushma Swaraj</keyword> visited China, the Chinese chiefs seemed to be eager to take the relationship to a high level. The signals showed that the talks between Swaraj and her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi was characterised by “extraordinary warmth and cordiality”. 
 
The wording of their “protests” seem muted, though the content is the same, with China mentioning that they do not recognize the McMahon Line as well as the three areas 'belonging' to it. In the latest protest, the Chinese foreign ministry asked for a “fair and reasonable” resolution of the border issue through negotiations. 
 
“At the moment the boundary negotiations are in the process of building up small, positive steps,” Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said recently. “It is like climbing a mountain. The going is tough, that is only because we are on the way up,” he added. 
 
Modi’s visit, then, may be just the tip of an iceberg, or the first step in a long haul. There are hints of bilateral thrust-and-parry as well as compromise in the tone, attitude and unspoken desires of both countries. 
 
If this one large and killing problem of disputed land is nailed, then, the Asian giants can hold hands on every other issue. They may not even call for pompously heralded heads-of-states to visit each other.

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