From Wuhan Spirit To Chennai Connect, Sino-Indian Relationship Gathers Momentum After Modi-Xi Informal Meet

The full import of an ‘informal summit’ is something that few outside hallowed diplomatic circles fully comprehend. Unl­ike a regular meeting of two heads of government that usually produces a formal statement and a series of agreements, much of the work in an informal summit rests in the realm of the intangible; results are apparent over a period of time. Most people find it difficult to assess the ‘success’ of a high-level meeting.

Understandably, the October 11-12 informal summit at Mamallapuram between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping —involving a six-hour one-on-one meeting, subsequently followed by delegation-level talks—left many unsure about its outcome.