LOVE IN TOKYO
Talks held to review, deepen bilateral relationship
PM Narendra Modi with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe leave for Tokyo by Express Train, in Yamanashi, Japan, on Sunday, after visiting the Fanuc Corporation. The leaders reaffirmed their ties amid growing worries about trade and regional stability. Mr Abe said he will be a “friend of India for life”.
Yamanashi (Japan), Oct
28: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe held informal talks at a picturesque resort near Mount Fuji and visited a factory of industrial robot manufacturer on Sunday as they spent about eight hours together on the first-day of a two-day summit. Mr Modi, who arrived in Japan last evening to attend the 13th IndiaJapan annual summit, has said the partnership between the two countries has been fundamentally transformed and it has been strengthened as a ‘special strategic and global partnership’.
The two-day summit beginning Sunday will seek to review the progress in ties and deepen strategic dimension of the bilateral relationship. Mr Modi was received by Abe on his arrival at the Hotel Mount Fuji in the scenic Yamanashi prefecture, west of Tokyo.
“Delighted to meet PM @AbeShinzo in the picturesque prefecture of Yamanashi,” Modi tweeted. The two leaders “would be holding talks through the day on deepening India-Japan ties,” Prime Minister Modi’s office said.
The two leaders took a stroll in the garden following which Abe hosted a luncheon for Modi at the scenic resort by Mount Fuji. Modi presented Abe two handcrafted stone bowls and dhurries made from rose quartz and yellow quartz stone sourced from Rajasthan. After luncheon, both prime ministers visited the FANUC industrial facility, which specialises in automation. At the motor assembly facility, they witnessed the assembling of a motor by a robot in 40 seconds, officials added. FANUC contributes to the manufacturing industry in Japan and other countries, including India, by promoting automation and efficiency in manufacturing.
Later in the evening, Abe hosted Modi at his personal villa near Lake Kawaguchi for a private dinner. It is the first time that Abe has invited a foreign political leader to his holiday home. “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!” Modi tweeted. After the dinner, the two leaders left for Tokyo by train. The two prime ministers spent about eight hours together, MEA officials said. —PTI