Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Osaka Prefecture in Japan on Thursday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Osaka Prefecture in Japan on Thursday.
Abe offered his "hearty congratulations" to PM Modi for his overwhelming win in the recent elections. "Next time it is my turn to visit India and I am looking forward to my visit," said the Prime Minister of Japan.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted a clip of the Prime Ministers meeting with the caption, "Greeting each other as best friends do!"
Modi thanked his Japanese counterpart for the congratulatory remarks and said that Abe was "the first friend of India who congratulated me, on phone." He also expressed his gratitude for the "warm welcome" that the Japan government had accorded for the guests.
The bilateral talks between the two leaders are expected to "expand the strategic template" of the relationship between the two countries, through the discussion of a broad range of topics of mutual interest.
The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) also confirmed in a tweet that "many aspects of Indo-Japan relations were discussed" and the meeting, the first such between these leaders since the start of Japan's Reiwa Era, was marked with "a friendship characterised by warmth and the promise of a bright future".
In a cordial invite of cultural exchange, Prime Minister Modi said that Indian President Ram Nath Kovind will be visiting Japan in October to participate in the coronation ceremony of Japan's Emperor Naruhito.
Foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale commented on the meet by saying that "it was a very warm meeting", as both leaders are "old friends". "They had a very constructive and detailed discussion on the bilateral relationship," he added.
Modi reached Osaka to attend G-20 Summit early this morning.
Upon his arrival, Indian diaspora welcomed Modi at Swissotel Nankai hotel in Osaka.
"Reached Osaka to join the #G20 Summit. Grateful to the dynamic Indian community for the warm welcome!" tweeted Modi.
Meanwhile, Abe also reached Osaka and he is expected to hold a series of bilateral meetings ahead of G20 summit.
Besides Abe, Modi is expected to participate in several plurilateral and bilateral meetings including a meeting with US President Donald Trump.
In his departure statement ahead of his visit to Osaka, Modi said he looked forward to discussing major challenges and opportunities faced by the world with other global leaders.
"Women empowerment, issues related to digitalisation and artificial intelligence, and progress in achieving Sustainable Development Goals and in our common efforts to address major global challenges such as terrorism and climate change form the rich agenda of the summit," he said.
The prime minister said that the summit will provide an important opportunity to reinforce India's strong support to "reformed multilateralism", which is crucial for preserving rule-based international order in the fast-changing world.
(With inputs from ANI)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Osaka:")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}