India had an option to accept the invitation extended by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to participate in the Belt and Road Forum meeting in Beijing on May 14-15. Modi, in turn, had an option to depute a dignitary – a cabinet minister or a special envoy – to represent him. Delhi had a fall back option, too, to direct its envoy in Beijing to attend the event. But instead it decided to boycott the event.
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