PM Modi and President Xi visits east African countries

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping visited East African country Rwanda within a span of 24 hours while on their way to South Africa for BRICS summit. Chinese president Xi Jinping was in East African country from Sunday to Monday and Prime Minister Modi arrived in capital of Rwanda on Monday. Both India and China signed several bilateral cooperation documents on investment and development.

Playing down any India-China competition in Africa, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said, “We noticed that on the same day, Prime Minister Modi also visited Rwanda and the two countries signed several bilateral cooperation agreements on investment and infrastructure. China and India are the two largest developing countries and also emerging markets. We both want to help and deepen cooperation with African nations. We are on the same page.”

Geng further said, “The cooperation between both countries is developing with sound momentum. We hope that both countries could continue to implement the consensus between the two leaders, explore other cooperation models like ‘China-India plus one’ or ‘China-India plus X’ so as to realize win-win cooperation for China and India and for the peace and stability in the region.”

India has extended $200 million credit line for development projects in Rwanda whereas China signed an agreement to provide $126 million for two road projects.

Geng said that both leaders are again set to meet on the sidelines of BRICS summit in South Africa.