Beijing: The first overseas visit by Rahul Gandhi after being appointed as Congress party General Secretary has offered him the necessary exposure to delicate diplomacy with China and pragmatic macro economic policies of the communist country, according to analysts.

The visit by the young Indian leader has given him an opportunity to meet with China's newly-elected leadership as well as personally experience the great leap forward the nation has made and learn lessons from China's experience, one analyst said.

"The carefully planned visit to China has given him an opportunity to understand the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead of Sino-Indian relations, which will be one the most significant bilateral relations in the world," he said.

Being part of Congress President Sonia Gandhi's delegation gave him access to China's top leadership, including President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao, both of whom are expected to be in power till 2012 after they were re-elected to the all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Hu, who was re-elected as General Secretary of the CPC for another five-year term last week, spent over two hours with the high-power Congress Party delegation and hosted a banquet at the ornate Great Hall of the People, usually a venue for visiting state leaders.

While in China, Rahul Gandhi, who appeared to be media-shy, followed his own agenda, meeting with China's younger leaders and discussing youth affairs.
Source : PTI