Modi-Abe old friends, meeting was warm: FS

June 27, 2019 12:08

Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale on the meeting between PM Modi and Japan PM Shinzo Abe:

"It was a very warm meeting, both leaders are old friends. They had a very constructive and detailed discussion on the bilateral relationship.

"PM Abe referred specifically to PM Modi's initiative in earlier G20 meetings on the issue of fugitive economic offenders and he said that G20 should deal with this problem as part of its anti-corruption measures.

"Both PMs would meet again tomorrow for a trilateral meeting between Japan, India & US, there was a brief discussion on the Indo-Pacific initiative that all three countries are separately pursuing and discussing together," Vijay Gokhale said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe held talks Thursday during which they discussed a range of issues of mutual interest, the first meeting between the two leaders since the start of Japan's Reiwa era.

The prime minster said that President Ram Nath Kovind will participate in the coronation ceremony of Emperor Naruhito in October.

Modi thanked Abe for his warm welcome to him and the Indian delegation visiting Japan for the G20 Summit. He also appreciated Japan's leadership as the G20 chairman.

"PM @narendramodi met Japanese PM @AbeShinzo ahead of the #G20Summit. Discussed broad range of topics of mutual interest. PM said that he was looking forward to visit of PM Abe to India later this year for the Annual Summit," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

The Prime Minister congratulated Abe and Japan's citizens for the start of the Reiwa era. The term for the new era is made up of the two characters Rei and Wa. Rei can mean "commands" or "order", as well as "auspicious" or "good".

Wa often means "harmony", and is also used in the Japanese word for "peace" - "hei-wa".

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