New Delhi, Sept. 1 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled in a Hongqi L5 limousine during his two-day visit to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit. The same model doubles as President Xi Jinping's official state car and is widely regarded as the pride of Chinese automotive engineering. More than a luxury vehicle, the Hongqi L5 serves as a powerful political and cultural symbol. Here are five key facts about the car, as reported byNDTV World.

1. A symbol of Chinese statecraftHongqi, which means "Red Flag" in Mandarin, is China's oldest passenger car marque, launched in 1958 by the state-owned First Automobile Works (FAW) Group. The L5 is its flagship limousine, reserved for senior Chinese leaders and select vis...