Indo-Japan Ties to Play Apt Role in Finding Solutions: Indian PM

PM Modi meets Japanese PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida in Tokyo on Tuesday and said India-Japan ties will play "an appropriate role in finding solutions to the problems of the world", building on the works done by former prime minister Shinzo Abe.

Modi is visiting Japan for a day to attend the state funeral of Abe who was assassinated in July. He told Kishida that Abe had taken India and Japan relations to new heights and expanded them into many new areas.

"We are meeting today in this hour of grief," he said. "After arriving in Japan today, I am feeling more saddened. Because the last time I came, I had a very long conversation with Abe San. And never thought that after leaving, I would have to hear such a news."

Modi said the people of India remember Abe for all the good works he has done. "They are missing Abe San."

The Indian PM who shared a strong chemistry with Abe said their friendship played a key role in the growth of the two countries' shared global perspective. He also noted the contributions of Abe in conceptualising the vision of a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.

"I am confident that under your leadership, India-Japan relations will deepen further, and scale to greater heights," Modi told Kishida. "And I firmly believe that we will be able to play an appropriate role in finding solutions to the problems of the world."

Modi and Kishida had a "productive exchange" of views on further deepening bilateral relations, an official statement said.

"They also discussed a number of regional and global issues," it said. "The leaders renewed their commitment towards further strengthening the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership, and in working together in the region and in various international groupings and institutions."

India-Japan partnership focus on the areas of trade and investment, defence and security, climate change, health, infrastructure, digital, industrial development, energy, critical and emerging technologies, and human resources, among others.

"There is deep convergence in our visions of the Indo-Pacific region and there is close cooperation between our countries on issues of international importance," an official said on condition of anonymity.

Abe was shot at about 11:30 am local time on July 8 in Nara, east of Osaka, while he was delivering an election campaign speech on the street. He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead at 5:03 pm.