The meet between the Chinese President and the Indian Prime Minister was almost a ‘formal’ session, nevertheless, being called an informal summit. Obviously, because they are the heads of two gargantuan nations. There being a special trade connection between China, India and Mahabalipuram from 1300 years ago, which made it the perfect spot for this summit. It was said that the two countries spoke about trade, prevention of terrorism and all other usual talk between two States. Although being a meeting between the heads of two huge countries, it still was a ‘getting to know each other as friends’ talk.

Friendship is strengthened when WE see each other as equals. A person who knows ‘your best’ and ‘your worst’ is a friend worth cherishing. This is probably the relationship that these two countries could have. Knowing the strong point and weak point of your ally. Or, if not that, at least a peace treaty with your next door neighbor, so you or they don't rage out on each other. It may be difficult to do something like that considering that the citizens may not like the other country or their friendships with your rival country. As in the case of India, China is more amiable to Pakistan than India and the US being much more welcoming of India than China. This basically brings the world allies to the level of school children where children who are a part of two different groups would like to be friends but are stopped by their classmates due to THEIR disliking of each other. These ‘other’ friends may…. be a problem in the friendship of two children. Similarly, these other countries may be a problem to the friendship between Xi and Modi. We shouldn't allow SOME external threat to interfere in the will of two people or two countries. It is their choice to be companions or allies.

In recent news, Chinese President Xi Jinping has invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to China for a third informal summit. Who knows what may happen? Maybe the countries may become better friends. Alone they are strong , but together they may be one of the world’s greatest alliance. And it would be ‘India and China - The Next Level’.

So we can't conclude that these informal summits are taking place only because the two countries want to talk business. It may be for a better long term relationship as well.

- Raechel Thara Davids