Major takeaways from Xi's South Asia tour

The visits of President Xi Jinping to India and Nepal from Friday to Sunday produced both tangible and intangible outcomes.

Among the tangible outcomes, Xi's second informal summit with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi not only showcased their camaraderie but also their shared commitment to improving bilateral relations. It reinforced their "Wuhan Spirit" forged after their first informal meeting in Wuhan last year with their "Chennai Connect" implying further strengthening of strategic communications to build a win-win partnership of these two large and rapidly transforming nations.

And of special significance for India was their decision to address the perennial challenge of the expanding trade deficit. This has impeded their enormous potential for economic partnership. For this, they have set up a new upgraded ministerial mechanism, the High-Level Economic and Trade Dialogue, which will explore the deployment of new tools such as increased investments and opening up of the services sector to ensure better trade balance. The two will also strengthen their joint initiatives in third countries.