Japan PM assures Naidu of help in building Andhra capital

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Friday assured Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu that Japan will extend full cooperation to Andhra Pradesh in building a world-class capital city.

Naidu, who is currently visiting Japan, met the prime minister at his office in Tokyo.

"Japan will extend full cooperation to the new state of Andhra Pradesh in its development and also in building the capital city," an official statement here quotes Abe as saying.

Abe hoped that the meeting will strengthen bilateral ties between Japan and India and open new vistas for both the countries in strategic and global partnership.

He noted that in a short span of time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Naidu have visited Japan, seeking its cooperation for building smart cities and in improving bilateral ties.

He said Japan is hopeful of improving and strengthening its relations with India and Andhra Pradesh in various sectors like trade and commerce, infrastructure, technology, agriculture, automobiles, etc.

Naidu invited Abe to Andhra Pradesh as part of his visit to India in January.

He also handed over the Tirupati Prasadam to Abe and presented a memento to him.

Indian Ambassador to Japan Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa, state ministers Yanamala Ramakrishnudu and P. Narayana, MPs Galla Jayadev, C.M. Ramesh, Andhra Pradesh special representative in Delhi K. Ramamohan Rao, advisor (communications) Parakala Prabhakar, Principal Secretary Satish Chandra and others were also present during the meeting.