印度总理莫迪访华寻求更紧密关系

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in China for a state visit expected to further boost diplomatic and economic ties between the two Asian giants.

Prime Minister Modi, who is making his first visit to China since being elected last year, arrived early Thursday in Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi province and the hometown of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In what is being seen as a gesture of goodwill, President Xi is traveling to Xi'an to welcome Mr. Modi later Thursday. It is unusual for Chinese leaders to meet visiting heads of state outside of the capital, Beijing.

The visit comes months after Mr. Modi hosted Mr. Xi at his hometown of Ahmedabad for a state visit during which both leaders exuded a notable degree of personal warmth, which both sides hope translates into further economic cooperation.

The two leaders are expected during the visit to sign $10 billion in economic deals, according to the Chinese state-run Global Times newspaper