Chinese President Xi Jinping left Beijing Friday for his second informal meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a state visit to Nepal from October 11 to 13.

This is Xi's first overseas trip after the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. It is widely expected to inject new impetus into China-India and China-Nepal ties, and even China's relationship with South Asia.

Speaking of the significance of Xi's ongoing visits, Atul Aneja, associate editor of The Hindu, pointed out that it's very important how the entire regional equation is addressed especially between Xi and Modi, because both countries have specific areas of interest not only in South Asia, but globally on all sorts of issues such as climate change. Atul believes how the two Asian powers locate their bilateral relationship in the bigger picture is a dialogue that is going to take place between the two leaders during their informal meeting.

During their informal Wuhan summit in April last year, President Xi and Prime Minister Modi reached an important understanding on China-India Plus cooperation. Dr. Zhao Hai, a research fellow with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences noted that the Wuhan meeting is critical because after some tensions and crises, both countries realized they needed to work together and find a platform to realize their respective strategic goals. Dr. Zhao says China-India Plus cooperation is one of those mechanisms where China, India, and other South Asian countries can work together.

Is the chemistry between China and India confined to their bilateral ties? Atul Aneja notes that we have to look into the fact that both are the world's oldest civilizations. As such, the two countries need to look beyond. The challenge, Atul said, is how the two countries can work together and cooperate with each other. China-India Plus cooperation, according to Atul, sets a very good example in this direction.

Next year will mark the 65th anniversary of China-Nepal bilateral ties.

Since China and Nepal signed a Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative in May 2017, bilateral cooperation has been greatly improved.

As the first Chinese president to visit Nepal after an interval of 23 years, President Xi will attend the welcome ceremony and banquet hosted by Nepali President Bidhya Devi Bhandari, meet with Bhandari, hold talks with Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, and jointly witness the signing of cooperation documents with him. Expectations are high.

Meanwhile, as neighbors in South Asia, India and Nepal share a long tradition of friendship and cooperation. The triangular relationship between China, India, and Nepal, therefore, has raised increasing interest in the region.

Addressing the triangular ties, Dr. Zhao Hai pointed out that both China and India have common interests in having the region develop more quickly and peacefully. In this case, "the case of Nepal could be a model for China-India cooperation," Dr. Zhao asserted.

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