13th India-Japan annual summit Latest Updates: 'Extremely grateful to Shinzo Abe for warm reception', says PM Modi
It is said the prime minister's visit will reaffirm the traditional bonds of friendship between the two countries and strengthen their multi-faceted cooperation in diverse fields.
Health care, transport infrastructural and regional security are likely to remain at the forefront during the bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe during the 13th India-Japan annual summit being held in Japan today.
Prime Minister Modi, who flew to Tokyo on Saturday for his two-day meeting, said his meeting with PM Abe will add new vigour to the strong friendship between the two countries.
Here are the Latest Updates from PM Modi - PM Abe meeting in Japan
3:30 pm: Extremely grateful to PM @AbeShinzo for the warm reception at his home. I am truly honoured by this gesture. PM Abe also taught me the Japanese way of eating food using chopsticks!: PM Modi
12:46 pm: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visit Fanuc Corporation in Yamanashi Prefecture, leading manufacturer of of factory automation.
12:26 pm: PM Modi one of my most dependable friends: Abe
"Prime Minister Modi, who is currently visiting Japan since yesterday, is one of my most dependable and valuable friends. On behalf of the entire Japanese government, I have the pleasure of extending him the warmest hospitality," the Japanese leader's message read.
"Together with Prime Minister Modi, I would like to further strengthen Japan-India cooperation to realise a free and open Indo-Pacific," Abe said.
12:20 pm: PM Narendra Modi presented Japanese PM Shinzo Abe two handcrafted stone bowls made from rose quartz and yellow quartz stone and hand-woven Dhurries by the weavers of Mirzapur, UP, specially crafted on the occasion of his visit to Japan for India-Japan annual summit: Sources
11:10 am: PM Narendra Modi is affectionately received by Japanese PM Shinzo Abe on arrival at Hotel Mt Fuji in Yamanashi. This is the 12th meeting between the two leaders in the last four years: tweets MEA India
The agenda of meeting between PM Modi and PM Abe
Defence and regional security
The two-day summit beginning today will seek to review the progress in ties and deepen strategic dimension of the bilateral relationship.
During the summit, Modi will engage with Abe on a range of issues including defence and regional security.
In a statement on Friday, before leaving for Japan, Modi described India and Japan as a "winning combination" and said the island nation was New Delhi's most trusted partner in its economic and technological modernisation.
Health care
India is also hoping to have some kind of synergy or integration between Modi's Ayushman Bharat scheme, which is the largest medicare programme of its kind globally, and the Japanese programme which is called Asia Health and Wellbeing Initiative.
Transport infrastructure
Prime Minister in his statement said projects such as Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail and Dedicated Freight Corridors reflected the high level and "strength of our economic engagement".
"Japan is also at the forefront of engaging in our national initiatives, such as 'Make in India', 'Skill India', 'Digital India', 'Start Up India'... Japanese investors have faith in India's economic future, which is marked with myriad opportunities," Modi said.
Besides bilateral issues, the two leaders are expected to deliberate on a range of regional and global issues including the situation in the Indo-Pacific region.
Meeting with the Indian community
As per the tradition founded by PM Modi, he addressed the Indian community in Japan. The community accorded PM Modi a warm welcome
As one of the first engagements on the PM Modi addressed the Indian community function in Tokyo on Saturday. "I thank Japan's Indian community for their warm welcome. We are proud of the accomplishments of the Indian diaspora," the PM tweeted after the meeting.
Shinzo Abe reciprocates Narendra Modi's hometown diplomacy
Reciprocating to PM Modi's 'hometwon diplomacy', Japanese leader will host PM Modi at his holiday home in the picturesque Yamanashi prefecture for a private dinner on Sunday.
Yamanashi, at a distance of around 110 kilometres from Tokyo, is surrounded by several mountains including Mount Fuji - the country's tallest peak at around 3,776 metres.
PM Abe's unprecedented decision to host PM Modi at his holiday home comes after the latter hosted Abe and his wife at Ahmedabad, the capital of his home state Gujarat during their last state visit to India last year.
On Sunday afternoon, Prime Minister Modi joined his Japanese counterpart for an informal lunch at a hotel. The two leaders then visited a company which is a leading manufacturer of factory automation. The two leaders will travel back to Tokyo in train after the dinner on Sunday.
This will be PM Modi's 12th meeting with Abe since he first visited Japan as prime minister in September 2014.