All set for Modi, Xi summit at Mamallapuram

Chennai : The Tamil Nadu government is literally leaving no stone unturned to accord a grand welcome to Chinese President Xi Jinping on his maiden two-day visit to the state on Friday.

The Chinese President will land here on Friday afternoon and at about 4 pm, he will travel by road in his Hongqi luxury car to Mahabalipuram to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The two leaders will go around the UNESCO World Heritage Site housing rock-cut and stone carved monuments.

It has been learnt that Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Chief Minister K Palaniswami and others will receive Xi Jinping on his arrival at the airport.

Electric transformers or power junction boxes have been covered and roadside shops are being evicted so as to present a pleasant sight to the visiting dignitary.

The airport is also being spruced up and cultural programmes are scheduled to welcome Modi and Xi Jinping. An eight-feet stone sculpture of Goddess Meenakshi has been temporarily installed at the Chennai airport.

While Modi will spend the Friday night at a beach resort near Mamallapuram, the Chinese President will drive back to the ITC Grand Chola Hotel.

On Saturday morning, Xi Jinping will again go to Mamallapuram by road and have discussions with Modi. Meanwhile, security has been tightened at Mahabalipuram and Chennai.

The state police have deployed thousands of security forces to thwart any untoward incident and CCTV cameras have been installed at several places.

As part of the welcoming programme, students from schools and colleges and others will stand on the pavements waving Indian and Chinese national flags to greet Xi Jinping on his way to ITC Grand Chola

Hotel from the airport and from there to Mamallapuram.