April 27, 2018 -On the same day as the historic Summit between North and South Korea’s leaders, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping met today in Wuhan for an “informal meeting,” which, although there will be no communique or press conference, could presage the launching of an “Asian Century,” and a new paradign for mankind. The tension between China and India, over the military confrontation on the border in Doklam and over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (which passes through an area contested between Pakistan and India) has held Modi back from participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.
Reports that Modi might have campaigned in the next election on an anti-CHina platform (which was certainly being encouraged by the Brits and the neocons) is now a thing of the past. The visit to China was not long planned, but a recent decision to change the course of relations to the better.
Modi tweeted before arriving today: “President Xi and I will exchange views on a range of issues of bilateral and global importnace. We will discuss our respective visions and priorities for national development, particularly in the context of current and future internation situation.” They will have two long discussions, and four other events.
Among the events was was a visit today to the famous museum of artifacts discovered only in 1978 in the tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng, burid in 433 BC, which included the incredible Bianzhong
Bells — a set of 65 bronze bells which produced a twelve tone scale tuned to C=256, with 2800 characters inscribed on the bells — a “music manual” form the 5th Century BC. Both Xi and Modi
played the bells.
Bells — a set of 65 bronze bells which produced a twelve tone scale tuned to C=256, with 2800 characters inscribed on the bells — a “music manual” form the 5th Century BC. Both Xi and Modi
played the bells.
Modi noted that as Chief Minister of Gujarat, he had been so impressed by the construction of the Three Gorges Dam that he had visited Wuhan and spent a day at the dam. “The speed with which you constructed it and the scale inspired me,” he said. He said that “India and China acted as engines for global economic growth for 1600 years out of the past 2000 years,” clearly intending that this relationship should continue and expand.
Xi said that he had accepted an invitation to hold another such informal meeting in India next year.
A China Daily article today noted that Deng Xiaoping told Rajiv Ghandi when he visited China in 1998 that, if there were to be an Asian Century, it would require close and sustained cooperation between China and Russia. It appears that time is finally at hand.
