PM Modi to hold talks with Japanese counterpart today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday would hold the ninth annual summit level talks with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, who arrived here on a three-day visit to India on Friday.

The two leaders, at the talks, will review the implementation of various decisions taken during the past one year to enhance economic ties, especially in the trade and investment sector.

A Rs. 98,000 crore deal to build a bullet train network is also in the offing.

After the talks, Prime Minister Abe, accompanied by his Indian counterpart, will visit Varanasi and attend 'Ganga Aarti' at famous Dasaswamedh Ghat.

Welcoming his Japanese counterpart, Prime Minister Modi tweeted that the visit would provide new strength and vigour to the Indo-Japan ties, while Prime Minster Abe expressed hope that his meeting with Prime Minister Modi would further elevate the ties.

He said Japan and India share basic values and every field would be critically important for Asia and the world in this century.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on Prime Minister Abe, where he expressed his excitement for his third visit to India as Prime Minister. He also conveyed his heartfelt condolences for the loss of lives in the recent Chennai floods.

Meanwhile, the Japanese Prime Minister was conferred with an honorary doctorate in International Relations by Jawaharlal Nehru University here on Friday for Japan's role in India's economic development.