PTI

New Delhi, September 26

Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for Tokyo on Monday night to attend the state funeral of Japan’s former prime minister Shinzo Abe, who reshaped Japan’s overseas coverage together with setting out a daring imaginative and prescient for a quantum leap in its ties with India.

Representatives from over 100 international locations, together with greater than 20 heads of states and governments, are anticipated to attend Abe’s funeral on Tuesday on the Budokan, an indoor sporting facility.

Modi will even maintain a bilateral assembly with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

Abe was shot useless whereas making a marketing campaign speech three months in the past within the southern Japanese metropolis of Nara.

India had introduced a one-day nationwide mourning on July 9 as a mark of respect for Abe.

“I am travelling to Tokyo tonight to participate in the State Funeral of former PM Shinzo Abe, a dear friend and a great champion of India-Japan friendship,” Modi tweeted hours earlier than departing for Tokyo.

“I will be conveying heartfelt condolences to Prime Minister Kishida and Mrs. Abe on behalf of all Indians. We will continue working to further strengthen India-Japan relations as envisioned by Abe San. @kishida230,” he stated.

At a media briefing, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra stated Modi will attend the state funeral ceremony at Budokan, adopted by a greeting event at Akasaka Palace, in addition to assembly Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Abe’s spouse Akie.

“The visit will be an opportunity for PM Modi to honour the memory of former PM Abe, who he considered a dear friend and great champion of India-Japan ties,” he stated.

In an historic handle to the Indian Parliament in August 2007, Abe elaborated on his formidable roadmap for India-Japan strategic ties to collectively take care of geopolitical challenges and for general prosperity of Asia.

In the “Confluence of Two Seas” speech, he advised Indian lawmakers that the India-Japan relationship is blessed with the most important potential for improvement of bilateral relationship wherever on this planet.

Kwatra stated Modi and Abe developed a private bond via their conferences and interactions spanning over a decade, starting with Modi’s go to to Japan in 2007 because the chief minister of Gujarat.

“PM Abe made significant contributions to deepening India-Japan relations, turning a largely economic relationship into a broad, comprehensive, and strategic partnership, making it pivotal for the two countries’ and the region’s security,” Kwatra stated.

“His famous ‘Confluence of Two Seas’ speech in the Indian Parliament in 2007 laid the ground for the emergence of the Indo-Pacific region as a contemporary political, strategic, and economic reality,” he stated.

The overseas secretary stated Abe’s contribution to India-Japan relations was recognised when India conferred on him the celebrated Padma Vibhushan award in 2021.

Kwatra stated the length of Modi’s go to from the time of his departure from Delhi will likely be round 12 to 16 hours.

Kishida visited India for the annual summit in March, whereas Modi visited Japan for the Quad Leaders’ Summit in May.

“These meetings underscored the two leaders’ commitment towards deepening India-Japan ties, particularly in the context of shaping a post-pandemic regional and global order,” Kwatra stated.

“Today, Japan is one of the most trusted and valued strategic partners of India. The two sides are committed to strengthening bilateral partnership on key areas of trade and investment, defence and security, climate change, health security, infrastructure, digital, industrial development, energy, critical and emerging technologies, and human resources, among others,” he stated.

Kwatra stated there may be deep convergence between India and Japan on the Indo-Pacific area.

“The bilateral meeting between PM Modi and PM Kishida during the upcoming visit will be an opportunity for the two leaders to reaffirm their commitment to further strengthening of the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership,” he stated.