Informal meetings important new element in high-level Sino-Indian exchanges

From Friday to Sunday, Chinese President Xi Jinping will have an "informal meeting" with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and pay a state visit to Nepal.

The belated official announcement of Xi's visits to the country's two South Asian neighbors, only 48 hours ahead of the informal meeting, was proof that Beijing and New Delhi cherish the opportunity to improve bilateral ties through the personal chemistry between their top leaders.

That both Beijing and New Delhi announced the meeting will take place, squashed the earlier speculation that the two leaders would postpone any meeting and sent the reassuring message that they want nothing to get in the way of constructive engagement.