China, India vital to Asia's growth story

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's three-day visit to China from Thursday will have an impact on not only China-India ties, but also regional geopolitics.

Modi began his China visit from Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, which is President Xi Jinping's home province. The non-traditional "hometown diplomacy" for Modi's visit - similar to that adopted for Xi's visit to India in September last year - shows that both governments are determined to increase cultural exchanges and strengthen the friendship between the two leaders.

Instead of India's capital of New Delhi, Xi made his first stop in Modi's home-state of Gujarat in honor of the Indian prime minister. Modi has chosen to pay back the compliment by choosing to land in Xi'an.