Modi meets Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, they will discuss defence and regional security

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe in Yamanashi, Japan on Sunday.

Modi is in Japan on a two-day state visit during which he will also attend the 13th India-Japan summit.The two countries have an annual summit.

This will be Modi's twelfth meeting with Abe since the Indian prime minister first Japan in September 2014.

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Modi and Abe are expected, over the summit,to discuss a number of issues including defence and regional security.

"Landed in Tokyo. I am confident this visit will add new vigour to the strong friendship between India and Japan," Modi said in a tweet on Saturday.

In a statement on Friday, before leaving for Japan, Modi described India and Japan as a "winning combination" and said the island nation was New Delhi's most trusted partner in its economic and technological modernisation.

Prime Ministers @narendramodi and @AbeShinzo meet at Yamanashi. They would be holding talks through the day on deepening India-Japan ties. pic.twitter.com/T9eGZ3yuVx — PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 28, 2018

#WATCH: Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe receives PM Narendra Modi at hotel Mount Fuji in Yamanashi pic.twitter.com/FoablhOqlc — ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2018

PM Narendra Modi presented Japanese PM Shinzo Abe two handcrafted stone bowls made from rose quartz and yellow quartz stone and hand-woven Dhurries by the weavers of Mirzapur, UP, specially crafted on the occasion of his visit to Japan for India-Japan annual summit: Sources pic.twitter.com/M9ZDaeQWIC — ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2018

On landing in Japan, Modi met with the Indian community at Tokyo's Imperial Hotel.

I thank Japan's Indian community for their warm welcome.

We are proud of the accomplishments of the Indian diaspora. pic.twitter.com/N51w7nPJpo — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 27, 2018

On Sunday afternoon, Prime Minister Modi will join his Japanese counterpart for an informal lunch at a hotel. The two leaders will then visit a company which is a leading manufacturer of factory automation.

Besides bilateral issues, the two leaders are expected to deliberate on a range of regional and global issues including the situation in the Indo-Pacific region.

It is said the prime minister's visit will reaffirm the traditional bonds of friendship between the two countries and strengthen their multi-faceted cooperation in diverse fields.

India is also hoping to have some kind of synergy or integration between Modi's Ayushman Bharat scheme, which is the largest medicare programme of its kind globally, and the Japanese programme which is called Asia Health and Wellbeing Initiative.

Prime Minister in his statement said projects such as Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail and Dedicated Freight Corridors reflected the high level and "strength of our economic engagement".

"Japan is also at the forefront of engaging in our national initiatives, such as 'Make in India', 'Skill India', 'Digital India', 'Start Up India'... Japanese investors have faith in India's economic future, which is marked with myriad opportunities," Modi said.
Modi will also address the Indian community function in Tokyo and will attend a series of business events and address the business forum.

(With inputs from PTI)