Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Talaminadu’s Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram, as it is currently known. PM Modi shared a series of photos of himself with Jinping on Twitter with two leaders spending time sipping coconut water and taking a walk in a picturesque background.
Modi also welcomed Jinping for a sumptuous traditional south Indian dinner, whose menu included both vegetarian and non-vegetarian spreads. The highlights of the non-veg menu for the dinner at the Shore Temple in Mahabalipuram were mouth-watering Malabar Lobster, Mutton Ularthiyadu, Mamsam Biryani and Karuveppilai Meen Varuval (fish fry with curry leaves) among others.
Overlooking the Bay of Bengal is the majestic Shore Temple.
One of the most iconic landmarks, the Shore Temple exemplifies the greatness and grandness of Indian culture.
Here are some pictures… pic.twitter.com/ICDEWsZI30
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 11, 2019
The vegetarian menu comprised of traditional south Indian sambhar, a mouth-watering local recipe made of lentils, Thakkali Rasam (made of tomato and imli) and Kadalai Korma among others. There were also arrangements for halwa and ice cream in dessert items.
Tamil Nadu: Non-vegetarian menu of the dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Chinese President Xi Jinping today in Mahabalipuram. pic.twitter.com/FrKqWTaA8Q
— ANI (@ANI) October 11, 2019
Earlier, PM Modi also gifted traditional Tamil artifacts including Nachiyarkoil Annam lamp and a Thanjavur painting to Jinping.
PM @narendramodi hosted a dinner in the honour of President Xi Jinping in the Shore Temple premises today. The menu included traditional Tamil delicacies like Chettinad dishes, specially made sambhar and halwa.
— Prasar Bharati News Services (@PBNS_India) October 11, 2019
This was the second informal meeting between Modi and Jinping after the Wuhan edition last year.
Modi’s arrival in Tamil Nadu was marred by huge protest on social media with hashtag #GoBackModi trending nationally throughout the day.