Varanasi convention centre: Japan to send survey team

Japan will send a survey team next month to take forward the convention centre project in Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lok Sabha constituency.

This was conveyed by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Modi during a bilateral meeting here on the sidelines of the Fourth Nuclear Security Summit on Friday, external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said.

The decision to build the convention centre at a cost of Rs.740 million ($11 million)was taken during Abe's visit to India last December.

According to Swarup, Abe, while thanking Modi for the excellent hospitality extended to him, described his visit to Varanasi as unforgettable.

During the course of the visit, Modi had taken Abe from New Delhi to Varanasi to witness the spectacular Ganga Aarti at the Dashashwamedh Ghat.

"Prime Minister Abe acknowledged that under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, the Indian economy was now serving as the engine of global growth," Swarup said.

"The two leaders reviewed the decisions taken during Prime Minister Abe's visit and expressed satisfaction at the strong pace of implementation," he said.

The two leaders also discussed measures to promote further trade and investment.

Modi also thanked Abe for Japan's strong participation at the International Fleet Review held at Vishakapatnam in February this year.

"The two leaders also discussed the continuing threat of terrorism and the need for the international community to eschew selective approaches," Swarup said.

"They also reviewed global and regional issues."

Abe said that he was looking forward to Modi's bilateral visit to Japan later this year.