‘PM MODI, ABE TO SET FUTURE DIRECTION OF PARTNERSHIP’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe will set the future direction of the special strategic and global partnership between the two countries when they meet this week, the government said on Monday.

Abe begins a two-day visit on Wednesday, during which he and Modi will hold the 12th India-Japan annual summit in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Modi and Abe will take part in the foundation stone laying ceremony of the much-anticipated Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail project.

The fourth annual summit between Modi and Abe will take place amid rising tension in the region following the nuclear test by North Korea and growing Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea.

“The two leaders will review the recent progress in the multifaceted cooperation between India and Japan under the framework of their ‘Special Strategic and Global Partnership’ and will set its future direction,” MEA said in a statement.

India-Japan ties are on an upswing in a range of areas, including defence and security. In their annual defence dialogue last week, the two countries had resolved to collaborate closely in defence production, including on dual-use technologies.

Pranay Verma, joint secretary (East Asia), MEA, said the bullet train project was announced during Abe’s visit in 2015.

Verma said that the fact that Gujarat’s capital would be hosting the bilateral meet highlighted the importance India’s states were playing in the country’s foreign policy. A India-Japan business meet will also be held on Thursday that will mark the culmination of a series of business events that will be held earlier in the day.

Verma said that Abe’s visit reflected India’s “redeeming partnership” with Japan and that country’s increasing engagement with India’s infrastructure and flagship development projects.