A strategic communication on profound global changes, an in-depth discussion on long-term issues. That's how Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi described Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to China. The two leaders took a stroll by East Lake in the central Chinese city of Wuhan and went on an hour-long boat ride. This was for the final day of the ice-breaking trip, hoping to lead to better ties. Modi was welcomed by Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday. The informal visit is the first by an Indian prime minister since 1988. President Xi hopes their talks open a new chapter in bilateral ties. CGTN's Zhao Yunfei has the story.

Hitting the chimes to hear the sound of a thousand years, the leaders of China and India appreciate the deep history of their ancient cultures. In the landmark central China city of Wuhan, Xi Jinping and Narendra Modi talked about future development.

XI SPEAKS WITH INTERPRETER VOICE: I am very pleased to see you.

Xi said ties should be raised to a strategic level, working to build a close partnership. Modi said India is willing to step up communications in the interest of increasing mutual understanding. He wrote about the meeting on Twitter.

Relations haven't been easy. Last summer, more than 270 Indian troops crossed the boundary into China's Donglang area in Tibet to obstruct infrastructure building. The dispute was resolved when India withdrew the troops.

Modi then paid a visit to China in September for a BRICS summit. The two leaders have shared eight exchanges since 2014. Some believe the timing of Modi's Wuhan trip is significant.

PROFESSOR SWARAN SINGH SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, JAWAHARLAL NEHRU UNIVERSITY "Especially now as the two leaders meet, I think that context is defined by the fact that Donald Trump's America first, following the protectionist policies, focusing inwards. And that, I think, creates grounds for India and China to play a larger role."

China is becoming India's largest trading partner. In the first quarter of 2018, bilateral trade volume hit some 22 billion US dollars, up over 15 percent compared with the same period last year. It reached a record high of nearly 85 billion dollars in 2017, growing by more than 20 percent year-on-year, the largest in the past five years. Chinese investment in India added up to more than 8 billion dollars by the end of 2017, with India being an important destination for infrastructure investment. Indian investment in China meanwhile grew by over 18 percent during the past three years.

Experts say the two countries are building a complementary relationship both politically and economically. More evidence of that is likely to be on display when the two leaders meet again, at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in June. Zhao Yunfei, CGTN.