PM Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping sign 3 MoUs; visit Sabarmati ashram: As it happened

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Ahmedabad on the first leg of his three-day India visit during which trade and investment are expected to top the agenda of talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi besides other bilateral and regional issues.

10:48 pm Xi Jinping arrives in Delhi.

8:35 pm Xi Jinping, PM Narendra Modi leave for Delhi.

7:15 pm Around 150 Gujarati dishes are on the dinner menu. It is being prepared by experts from Gujarat, Mumbai and Delhi.

7:10 pm Modi hosts private dinner for the Chinese premier at Sabarmati Riverfront Park.

6:40 pm PM Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping and the First Lady Peng Liyuan sit on a swing before going for private dinner.

6:35 pm Folk dancers are performing for the First Lady, PM Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Sabarmati Riverfront.

5:55 pm Chinese First Lady Peng Liyuan is also present at the Sabarmati Riverfront along with Modi and Jinping.

5:48 pm Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifts him a copy of the Gita written in Chinese language, the PTI reported.

5:45 pm The PM presents mementos including book and painting to Jinping. 

5:38 pm The leaders then visit 'Hriday Kunj' where Jinping spins the 'charkha'. 

5:35 pm Modi, Jinping take a look at the 'charkha' (spinning wheel) of Mahatma Gandhi at the ashram.  

5:33 pm Modi gives Jinping a tour of Mahatma Gandhi's wife Kasturba's personal room.

5:30 pm Traditional garba dancers perform for the Chinese premier.

5:29 pm Jinping spins the 'charkha'.  

5:27 pm Modi, Jinping take a look at the 'charkha' (spinning wheel) of Mahatma Gandhi at the ashram.

5:25 pm The Chinese premier and Indian PM pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.

5:21 pm Modi gives a tour of the ashram to Jinping as children sing 'bhajans' in the background.

Also See: Chinese President Xi Jinping India's visit

5:15 pm Modi, Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel welcome the Chinese premier and garland him with khadi threads. They walk on the red carpet leading to the ashram.

5:12 pm Xi Jinping arrives at Sabarmati ashram where he will be given a tour by PM Narendra Modi.

5:08 pm Modi arrives at Sabarmati ashram ahead of Jinping's visit.

5:00 pm Modi will host a private dinner for Jinping at the Sabarmati Riverfront Park.

4:55 pm The Chinese premier will visit Mahatma Gandhi's Sabarmati ashram shortly. 

4:31 pm The two countries sign pact to set up an industrial park in Gujarat. 

Also Watch: India and China ink 3 MoUs, to set up industrial park in Gujarat

4:29 pm The two countries signed a pact for closer cooperation between the cities of Guangzhou and Ahmedabad.

4:27 pm India and China sign a 'Sister Province' agreement between Guangdong and Gujarat. It covers cooperation in trade, health, science, technology and tourism among others.

4:25 pm The agreements expected to be inked are likely to be on infrastructure, railways and a sister city agreement between Ahmedabad and China's Guangdong province.

4:20 pm Modi and Xi will shortly sign several key agreements between the two countries.

4:02 pm: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping begin talks.

3:45 pm: The two heads of state pose for cameras. 

3:44 pm: Prime Minister Narendra Modi hands over bouquet of flowers to the Chinese President and the First Lady of China. 

3:40 pm: Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in the hotel. Prime Minister Narendra Modi received him.

3:39 pm: The Prime Minister can be seen outside the hotel, waiting for the Chinese leader. 

3:13 pm: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reached Hotel Hyatt in Ahmedabad.

3:12 pm: On the road from the airport to the hotel in Vastrapur area, welcome hoardings in Mandarin, English and Gujarati can be seen.

3:10 pm: The Prime Minister's cavalcade is, meanwhile, on its way to Hotel Hyatt, where he will receive Chinese President Xi Jinping. 

3:07 pm: A guard of honour is being presented to Xi. ​

3:05 pm: A troupe from the tribal belt of Gujarat presented a folk dance with traditional costumes and a Scottish Pipe Band from Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan, Maninagar, Ahmedabad also performed.

3:04 pm: Traditional "chaniya choli" wearing Gujarati women put a kesar-kumkum tilak and offered rice and flowers to Xi.

3:03 pm: Airport sources told a news agency that Xi flew into Ahmedabad in a Boeing 747 aircraft of Air China. 

3:02 pm: Chinese President Xi Jinping, along with his wife Peng Liyuan, 51, a well accomplished folk-singer and a household name in China, are being received by Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel and state Governor OP Kohli. Due to the warm and sunny weather, attractive and decorated umbrellas were held over the first couple of China.

2:51 pm: After signing defence and maritime security cooperation deal with Colombo, Xi Jinping is expected to ink a number of agreements with the Indian PM during his three-day visit.

2:46 pm: Ahmedabad, the commercial capital of Gujarat state, has decked up to receive the Chinese leader. 

2:45 pm: This is the first time a foreign dignitary is starting his visit from outside the national capital.

2:43 pm: A red carpet welcome and Gujarati culture and cuisine await the Chinese President during his six-hour visit to the state.

2:40 pm: The much-awaited three-day visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping begins as his plane has landed in Ahmedabad. His plane is delayed by 20 minutes. Breaking the protocol, Prime Minister Narendra Modi would personally receive the Chinese President.