President leaves for China on four-day visit

New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday left Delhi for China on a four- day visit. Vice-President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were present at a send-off function.

In the first leg of his State visit, President Mukherjee will go Guangzhou, which is one of the most important industrial provinces of China.

He will participate in an Indian community event there in the evening. The President will reach Beijing on Wednesday. He will have talks with the top leaders of China like his counterpart Xi Jinping on bilateral, regional and international issues.

Pranab is accompanied by a delegation of top Indians academicians including Vice Chancellors of Central Universities and Directors of IITs, where they will sign a MoU with top Chinese research and educational Institution.

Earlier, before his departure, he had said that India seeks a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement of the boundary issues with China. "We seek a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement of the boundary question and, pending the boundary settlement, to maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas. Both sides should strive to ensure that the outstanding issues are addressed in a manner that demonstrates mutual sensitivity to each other's concerns, interests and aspiration," he said.