President Pranab Mukherjee who is on a four-day visit to China has reached Guangzhou, the first leg of the state visit. It's interesting to note that this time last year PM Narendra Modi had spent three days in China. Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Smriti Irani, Prakash Javdekar, General VK Singh have also visited China. These visits ahead of the President's visit has certainly ensured a cordial atmosphere exists not only for border talks but also for the President's pet project -- attracting Chinese  investment in education in India.

This is evident from the fact is that six vice chancellors from Indian universities, including Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir and IIT,  IIM directors of Delhi, Bhubaneshwar and Kolkata are part of the high-level delegation.

R Rajagopalan/Rediff.com reporting from Guangzhou.


Image: President Pranab Mukherjee is received by the officials of the People's Republic of China on his arrival at Guangzhou.