File photo of PM Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping Photo Credit: Twitter File photo of PM Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping/ Twitter: Raveesh Kumar

Key Highlights Hours before the summit, China stated that Kashmir should be resolved as per UN mandate

Trade and confidence building measures will be discussed during the meet and the two sides will issue separate statements after the meet

New Delhi: Trade and defence will be on agenda as PM Narendra Modi and Chinese President XI Jinping meet for an informal summit at Mamallapuram in coastal Tamil Nadu on October 11-12. According to agency reports, the meeting will be similar to the one held in Wuhan in April 2018.

While there is no specific agenda and no formal documents or agreements will be signed during the meeting, the two sides will make separate statements after the meeting.

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Among key issues that are likely to be discussed include confidence-building measures along the Line of Actual Control, bilateral trade and global issues at large.

The Chinese President will arrive in India on Friday afternoon and the talks will be held at a sea resort near Chennai. Later during the day, PM Modi will host a dinner for Jinping and a cultural show will also be held in the evening.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval will accompany PM Modi at the summit.

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The meeting comes on the backdrop of an ongoing diplomatic tussle between India and Pakistan over New Delhi's decision to end the special status of Jammu and Kashmir by abrogating Article 370.

On Wednesday, hours before the meeting, China stated that Kashmir needs to be resolved in line with the UN mandate. This is a change from its earlier stance that Kashmir is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) was quick to issue a counter. In a statement issued Wednesday evening, the MEA said, "We have seen the report regarding the meeting of Chinese President Xi Jinping with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan which also refers to their discussions on Kashmir. India’s position has been consistent and clear that Jammu & Kashmir is an integral part of India. China is well aware of our position. It is not for other countries to comment on the internal affairs of India."