Singh’s private dinner meeting with Wen has clearly set the stage for the visit. Wen shared with the limited guests the deep impact his visits to India have had on him. What pleasantly surprised the Indian guests was his interpretation of the Taj Mahal as a symbol of Shah Jahan’s approach as an emperor wanting to preserve harmony. And he went on to contrast this with the rule of successor Aurangzeb and the negative impact his policies had as they were aimed to achieve different political goals. Wen told Singh that this was a lesson he had learnt from Indian history and will not forget it. He also brought up Amartya Sen as someone who has also had an impact on him.

Tomorrow, both sides get down to official business starting with an economic summit, followed by delegation level talks and then a banquet hosted by Wen. But if today’s dinner meeting is any indication, the political backdrop is changing. As the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson described the visit: “When the Indian Prime Minister shakes hands of Chinese leaders, it will catch the eyes of the world.”