Visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday welcomed the resumption of talks between India and Pakistan and the visit of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to Islamabad. Abe conveyed this to Swaraj when she called on him hours after his arrival here for a summit meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday.
The Japanese leader asserted that any steps taken to reduce tension were good and in this context he welcomed the resumption of Indo-Pak talks. Abe welcomed the fact that on her first visit as External Affairs Minister to Pakistan, Swaraj achieved an agreement between India and Pakistan on resuming dialogue.
“I am very excited to be here for my third visit to India as the Prime Minister,” Abe told Swaraj.
On her part, Swaraj briefed the visiting leader on the progress made on various decisions agreed upon by the two prime ministers in their previous meetings, saying he will be happy with the deliverables.
Swaraj also briefed Abe about the India-Africa summit and maintained that the African continent could be a possible area of coordination between the two countries.
The two countries also discussed the UN Security Council reforms and in this context Abe noted the initiative of Modi holding of G4 meetings on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York in September.
Abe arrived here on a three-day visit for annual summit talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during which the two sides are expected to seal a `98,000 crore deal for India’s first bullet train track and deliberate on a civil nuclear pact.
Welcoming Abe, Modi described him as a “phenomenal leader” and said his trip will further deepen the bilateral relations.”liked how PM @AbeShinzo describes India-Japan ties, the rich potential & cultural bond in his piece” in a newspaper, Modi tweeted. “India is all set to welcome its great friend & a phenomenal leader, PM @AbeShinzo. His visit will further deepen India-Japan relations,” he said in another tweet.
In the 9th annual Indo-Japan summit talks Saturday, Modi and Abe will review implementation of various decisions taken in course of last one year and are likely to focus on enhancing trade and investment between the two Asian economic powers.
Meanwhile, Abe was conferred with an honorary doctorate in International Relations by Jawaharlal Nehru University here for Japan’s role in India’s economic development.