In Brief

Modi in Xi’an: Terracotta warriors, temple & Bollywood redefines diplomatic style

- by India Writes Network

What has set Prime Minister Modi’s China’s visit apart is that he seeks to maintain a fine balance between economics, politics, ideology, sentiment and symbolism. Modi’s choice of Xi’an as the first venue of his China visit depicts a much broader agenda of managing relations with Asia’s largest economy. Prime Minister Modi’s arrival in Xian is significant and a departure from protocol by the Chinese government. The fact that President Xi Jinping personally received Mr Modi in his hometown underscores the importance China is attaching to his visit.
The visit by the Indian prime minister to Xian is a milestone of sort. Prime Minister Modi and President Xi holding summit talks in restricted format in the ancient city of Xian, PM Modi’s interaction with people in the city, his use of Hindi in his address, the grand welcome accorded to him and the break of the protocol in hosting the Indian PM first in Xi’an – these features mark a different diplomatic style that bodes well for the future trajectory of the India-China relations.

Read More

Cameron stuns pollsters, back in 10 Downing Street

- by India Writes Network

Defying sceptics, British Prime Minister David Cameron’s Conservative Party swept to a blockbuster victory in the UK polls, winning an outright majority in the parliament.

It was a spectacular victory by any reckoning, which stunned pundits and pollsters who had predicted a hung parliament. The Conservative Party won 331 seats in the 650-member parliament, assuring Mr Cameron a full five years in 10, Downing Street and the first majority Conservative government in decades.

‘Phir Ek Baar, Cameron Sarkar’

The victory elicited a steady stream of congratulations from world leaders. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first to felicitate Mr Cameron, and he chose his favourite twitter handle to convey his warm sentiments for the British leader. Improvising on his party slogan in the May 2014 elections, Mr Modi tweeted:” As you rightly pointed out – its Phir Ek Baar, Cameron Sarkar.”

Read More