Jintao reaches India to participate BRICS summit

Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived India for a two-day visit to participate in BRICS summit. The Chinese president is accompanied by a high-profile delegation comprising Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, State Councillor Dai Bingguo, senior ministers and business leaders. During his visit Jintao will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Manmohan singh. The two leaders are expected to declare 2012 as the year of India-China friendship and unveil initiatives to bolster cultural exchanges and people-to-people contacts.

During BRICS summit Chinese president will meet Russian counterpart Dmitry Medevdev today before participating in BRICS summit tomorrow. All the foreign guests including president of Brazil, Russia and South Africa will attend a banquet hosted by Indian President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan singh is expected to talk with Chinese president Hu Jintao on Thursday afternoon when both the leader will cover various issues on bilateral importance. They will also talk on bridging the trade deficit and fasttracking the new confidence building measures between both the countries.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will hold bilaterals talks on Thursday afternoon with the Chinese president that will cover various issues including bridging the trade deficit and fasttracking the new confidence building measures.

India is expected is to raise the issue of huge imbalance in bilateral trade that has exceeded $70 billion, with the surplus heavily in China's favour. (With inputs from IANS)