On Thursday, President Xi Jinping of China will be hosting Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India. Long-standing geopolitical woes notwithstanding, the two giant economies are set to close about 20 business deals, according to NDTV.
"India and China agreed on a close developmental partnership during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to India and Modi's visit will delineate on how to take forward the bilateral economic engagement," Ambassador Ashok K. Kantha said in the televised report.
"We expect more than 20 business agreements to be signed in Shanghai during the visit," the envoy added.
While geographically neighbors, the relationship between China and India remains fragile, as Time Magazine notes. Trade relations have not been beneficial and a border dispute still persists. Direct flights between its financial capitals are also non-existent.
But while the ambassador did not elaborate on the agreements, one of these deals could include a massive billion dollar railway project that would link Delhi and Chennai, if the talks go well, according to the Daily Mail.
China started its own high-speed railway project in 1999, which has been a factor in its booming economy. India's prime minister is apparently hoping to improve and adapt the same system to link the rest of the country's cities. The Chinese railway system's performance has already surpassed India's existing rail network today.
During the PM's visit, authorities from China are expected to present the project to Modi. The Daily Mail reported that a feasibility study between Delhi and Chennai is also being conducted.
Last September, Xi's visit to Modi, hailed as the first visit to India by a Chinese president in eight years, brought forth a $20 billion investment by China to India, according to Time.
