India, Japan review preparations for PM Modi's upcoming Tokyo visit

Japan National Security Advisor Shotaro Yachi visited New Delhi for bilateral consultations with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval and the two sides expressed satisfaction at the implementation of important understandings reached during the visit of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to India in December 2015.

The two sides also reviewed the preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's forthcoming visit to Japan for Annual Summit meeting, and agreed that this visit is the most significant event in the bilateral relations this year, which will further underscore the strong bonds of friendship that India and Japan share.

This was the return visit of Yachi to reciprocate the visit of Doval to Japan in July 2016.

Both officials shared a view that the Special Strategic and Global Partnership between India and Japan, that was agreed to during the visit of Prime Minister Modi to Japan in August-September 2014, is a key partnership for promoting peace, prosperity and development in the region and the world.

Their discussions, which were centred on important issues covering bilateral, regional and global dimensions, helped to further underscore the commonalities of views, shared interests and need to promote universal values.

NSA Yachi conveyed Japan's continued commitment to enhance Japan's engagement with India on regional and global issues.

They also agreed on the need for the global community to make concerted efforts to meet the pressing regional and global challenges.