Likening Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to China with that of the ice-breaking visit by former US President Richard Nixon in 1972, an article in the state-run newspaper said today he has the capacity to resolve major contradictions between the two Asian giants.

"Modi is considered as a state leader with strategic insights. He may become a Nixon-style statesman because of his pragmatism and capacity to resolve major contradictions between China and India and to tackle the common challenges of development," an article in the Global Times said.

The article titled "Modi's Nixonian pragmatism refreshes ties" by Y A Liu Zongy, assistant research fellow of Shanghai Institutes for International Studies said.Nixon's visit to China in 1972 had opened up US-China relations after which US investments and technology started flowing into the Communist nation, which opted for a widespread economic reforms.

Nixon's visit was considered an important step in formally normalising relations between the US and China. It marked the first time that a US president had visited the country. The visit ended 25 years of separation between the two sides.