China welcomes PM Modi with Pancham's 'Tu, tu hai wahi'

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China later this week he was welcomed with a 1982 Bollywood song: 'Tu, tu hai wahi dil ne jise apna kaha'. A group of musicians played a rendition of the famous RD Burman song at an event in Wuhan on Friday.

Modi who arrived in the central Chinese city of Wuhan for the informal summit received a grand welcoming ceremony hosted by President Xi.

Reacting to this news, singer Asha Bhosle tweeted, "Pancham will smile hearing the popularity of his music even in China. I hope his genius is given official recognition in the country of his birth."

Along with Bhosle, who had provided her vocals for the song, the actor who had featured in the song, Rishi Kapoor too took to Twitter to express his gratitude towards the legendary composer, fondly known as Pancham. Kapoor tweeted, "The Chinese played our song to welcome PM Modi along PM Xi in Wuhan. Honoured. Thank you Pancham!"

Modi and Xi had shook hands and posed for photographs before witnessing a cultural programme at Hubei Provincial Museum in Wuhan.

Wuhan used to be the favourite holiday spot of revolutionary Chinese leader Mao Zedong.

The summit is being seen as an effort by India and China to rebuild trust and improve ties that were hit by the 73-day-long Dokalam standoff last year.

(With PTI inputs)