PM Modi, Abe have warm conversation over Japanese meal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had an exceptionally warm and friendly conversation with his counterpart Prime Minister Shinzo Abe over a traditional Japanese meal in the elegant setting of the Imperial Guest House in Kyoto this evening.

The over one and a half hours discussion between the two leaders was marked by a great deal of mutual respect and admiration and convergence of views. The two Prime Ministers spoke about the ancient cultural and religious links between the countries, which are not known widely.

The two leaders felt that the commencement of Prime Minister Modi's visit in Kyoto, the old capital city, and an important centre of Buddhism, highlighted the important spiritual foundations of India-Japan relations.

They both keenly looked forward to visiting the ancient Toji Temple, which was a symbol of this link, tomorrow morning.

The MoU between Varanasi and Kyoto, signed earlier in the evening in their presence, was yet another reflection of working together to foster cooperation to address contemporary challenges on the strength of their shared heritage.

Prime Minister Modi also mentioned his plan to visit Centre for iPS Cell Research in Kyoto the next morning as part of his desire to seek advanced solutions through stem cell research for health challenges that he had seen in India.

Prime Minister Abe spoke with great enthusiasm and strong conviction about India and the importance of relations between the two nations for Japan and the region.

Prime Minister Modi described Japan as one of India's closest and most important partners and spoke about his own admiration and affinity for Japan and his high hopes from the relationship.

The discussions covered economic issues and the opportunities that both countries had to seize presented by their respective strong political mandates to inject new momentum and energy in their economies. They spoke with great optimism about a strong and robust future for India-Japan economic partnership.

Prime Minister Modi observed that the relationship was far below potential and expressed hope that the two sides would strive to achieve in the next five years the unrealized potential of five decades.

The Japanese Prime Minister expressed confidence that India's economic transformation would gather strong momentum under Prime Minister Modi.

An economically resurgent India would, he said, be of great strategic importance to the region and the world, and an inspiration for democratic forces around the world.

Prime Minister Modi said that a strong India-Japan partnership was important not just for the economic benefits to the two countries, but even more as a force of good for the region and the world.

The two leaders also had an extensive and candid exchange of views on the developments in the region and the world and saw in their remarkable convergence of views a great opportunity to work together for peace, stability and prosperity in Asia and the world.

Prime Minister Modi was deeply touched by Prime Minister Abe's gesture of hosting him in Kyoto. They looked forward to continuing their conversation in Tokyo.