In October 2007, Rahul had accompanied Sonia on a five-day visit to China. Last May, a high-level CPC delegation had called on the Congress president in Delhi with a proposal to hold a conference in Beijing to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi’s visit to China. The delegation had invited Rahul to inaugurate the conference to be held towards yearend. Congress sources said the young scion of the Nehru-Gandhi family was keen on attending the conference but he had not confirmed it yet because of the fact that there would be elections in four states around that time.

Sports Minister M S Gill and Petroleum Minister Murli Deora are among the other Indian dignitaries preparing to attend the opening ceremony.