PM Modi, China's President Xi Jinping at the Sabarmati riverfront
They will get down to business from today. However, on Wednesday evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his guest Chinese President Xi Jinping strolled down the Sabarmati riverfront, stopping to sit on an ornate swing as they chatted.
Both leaders wore Nehru jackets. China's first lady Peng Liyuan walked along with them and other delegates several metres behind. Black suits dominated the background, the media was conspicuous by its absence.
On one side on green lawns, performers from different parts of Gujarat danced. Every now and then, the group stopped as Mr Modi pointed to portions of the riverfront that he had developed as a pet project while he was Gujarat chief minister.
It was PM Modi's 64th birthday on Wednesday and he spent the evening with his visitor, the first Chinese president to visit India in eight years.
Before their stroll down the riverfront, Mr Modi received Mr Xi at Mahatma Gandhi's Sabarmati Ashram. The Chinese president took off his shoes and sat bare foot to spin the charkha or spinning wheel. Mr Modi too joined him.
Mr Xi also wrote in the visitor's book of the ashram while the hymn "Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram" played. Mr Modi garlanded Mr Xi with Khadi threads and presented him with a book "Gandhi in Amdavad," published by the ashram, a replica of Mahatma Gandhi's charkha and a historic picture of Gandhiji's famous Dandi march.
Dinner was laid out in a massive white Swiss tent right on the riverfront. A 150-dish Gujarati banquet was served. On the menu were traditional delicacies like Khaman and Dhokla.
Mr Xi landed in Ahmedabad on Wednesday afternoon on the first leg of his three-day visit, during which the two countries will focus on boosting trade and investments, besides discussing substantive issues including their border dispute. Then, they inked three pacts.
Prime Minister Modi welcomed the visiting dignitary and his wife at the entrance of the Hyatt Hotel and then guided them through an exhibition of Buddhist artifacts.