Prime Minister Modi and Xi JinpingIndia-China ties are plagued by a host of challenges – troubled borders, China's strategic ties with Pakistan – the list is long. However, the leaders of these two countries, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, share a 'special relationship' that many are unaware of.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his podcast debut on Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath's YouTube channel, said that ancient Chinese philosopher Xuanzang lived in his village Vadnagar in Gujarat.
Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping's relationship
Talking about the time when he was first elected Prime Minister in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Xi Jinping was also among the other world leaders who called on Modi to congratulate him.
“In 2014, when I became Prime Minister, I received courtesy calls from all world leaders to congratulate me. At that time, Chinese President Xi Jinping called me and congratulated me. During the phone conversation, he said he wanted to visit India, specifically Gujarat. , my village Vadnagar,” PM Modi said.
Prime Minister Modi explained that Chinese philosopher Xuanzang had spent most of his time in Vadnagar, Gujarat. While expressing his wishes, Xi Jinping had said that the Chinese philosopher had spent maximum time in Jinping's native village after returning to China from India.
“You and I have a special bond. The Chinese philosopher Xuanzang had spent most of his life in your village. But when he came back to China, he ended up living in my village. This is our connection,” PM Modi said. .
Modi's youth
While speaking to Nikhil Kamath, PM Modi further added that he was a regular student. “I didn't stand out in any way, but one of my teachers, Bheljibhai Chaudhary, often encouraged me. One day he said to my father, 'He is so talented, but he doesn't concentrate,' PM Modi said.