Modi selfie diplmacy to boost Indian-China relations as two countries sign two dozen MoUs
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NEW DELHI: It is Modi selfie diplomacy at its best.
After signing as many as 24 agreements with China in Beijing on Friday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi did something that is unheard of with stiff Chinese leaders. He posed for a selfie with his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang.
In the selfie, Modi, who is on a three-day visit to China, and the Chinese Premier seem to be very comfortable in each other’s company.
The selfie drew a huge response on Modi’s microblogging site Weibo which he created just before the visit in order to connect with the Chinese people.
In fact, at his joint press conference with Premier Li in Beijing on Friday, Modi stressed the importance of people-to-people contacts between India and China. The Modi selfie diplomacy seems to be part of this.
Modi’s charm offensive seems to be paying off in China.
After finishing the political part of the visit in Beijing, Modi reached Shanghai where the two countries will ink many agreements related to business and trade on Saturday.
Here is the list of 24 agreements signed by the two countries on Friday to boost India-China relations:
1. Protocols between India and China on the establishment of consulates-general at Chengdu and Chennai and the extension of the consular district of the consulate general of India in Guanzhou to include Jiangxi province.
2. MoU between the ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship of India and the ministry of human resources and social security of China on cooperation in the field of vocational education and skill development.
3. Action plan on cooperation in setting up of the Mahatma Gandhi National Institute for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in Ahmedabad/Gandhinagar in Gujarat.
Modi poses for selfies with Chinese children during the Yoga-Taichi Joint Event at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing on May 15.
Modi poses for selfies with Chinese children during the Yoga-Taichi Joint Event at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing on May 15.
4. MoU between India and China on consultative mechanism for cooperation in trade negotiations.
5.MoU on cooperation between the ministry of external affairs of India and international department of the central committee of the Communist Party of China.
6.Action plan between the National Railway Administration of China and the ministry of railways of India on enhancing cooperation in the railway sector. (2015-16).
7. MoU on education exchange programme.
Full text: Joint statement of India-China bilateral talks
8. MoU between the ministry of mines of India and the ministry of land and resources of China on the cooperation in the mining and minerals sector.
9. Space Cooperation Outline (2015-2020).
10. Protocol on health and safety regulations on importing Indian rapeseed meal between the export inspection council, ministry of commerce and industry of India and the general administration of quality supervision, inspection and quarantine.
Modi posing for selfies with Chinese children during the Yoga-Taichi Joint Event at Temple of Heaven in Beijing.
Modi posing for selfies with Chinese children during the Yoga-Taichi Joint Event at Temple of Heaven in Beijing.
11. MoU between Doordarshan and China Central Television on cooperation in the field of broadcasting.
12. Agreement between the ministry of tourism of India and the national tourism administration of China on cooperation in the field of tourism.
13. MoU on establishing India-China think-tanks forum.
14. MoU between India’s Niti Aayog and the Development Research Centre, State Council of China.
15. MoU between India’s ministry of earth sciences and the China Earthquake Administration concerning cooperation in the field of earthquake science and earthquake engineering.
16. MoU between India’s ministry of earth sciences and the State Oceanic Administration of China on cooperation in the field of ocean science, ocean technology, climate change, polar science and cryosphere.
17. MoU on scientific cooperation between Geological Survey of India, ministry of mines of India and the China Geological Survey, ministry of land and resources of China in geoscience.
18. MoU between the ministry of external affairs of India and ministry of foreign affairs of China on establishment of states/provincial leaders’ forum.
19. Agreement on the establishment of sister-state/province relations between state government of Karnataka and provincial government of Sichuan of China.
20. Agreement on establishment of sister-city relations between Chennai and Chongqing of China.
21. Agreement on establishment of sister-city relations between Hyderabad and Qingdao of China.
22. Agreement on establishment of sister-city relations between Aurangabad and Dunhuang of China.
23. MoU between the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and Fudan University on the establishment of a centre for Gandhian and Indian studies.
24. MoU between Indian Council for Cultural Relations and Yunnan Minzu University on the establishment of a yoga college.
