PM Narendra Modi met three former Prime Ministers of Japan ahead of a bilateral meeting with current PM Fumio Kishida in Tokyo on Tuesday.
These meetings with Yoshihide Suga, Shinzo Abe and Yoshiro Mori reflect the immense goodwill and personal chemistry of PM Modi with the Japanese Prime Ministers. Yoshiro Mori is the current president of the Japan-India Association (JIA), while Shinzo Abe will take over shortly.
The JIA, founded in 1903, is one of the oldest friendship associations in Japan. Prime Minister Modi appreciated the significant contribution made by the JIA under Mori in promoting exchanges between India and Japan in the political, economic and cultural fields.
He also wished Shinzo Abe the best of luck in his new responsibilities and looked forward to the JIA continuing his required role.
The leaders also discussed the broad canvas of the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership and the shared vision of India and Japan for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Discussions were also held on ways to further promote cultural and people-to-people ties.
During his meeting with Yoshihide Suga, PM Modi thanked him for strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries.
They recalled their past interactions, including their bilateral meeting for the first time in person, on the sidelines of the Quad Leaders Summit in Washington DC in September 2021.
Earlier today, PM Modi along with other leaders from Japan, the US and Australia participated in the second in-person Quad Leaders Summit in Tokyo.
During the summit, the leaders reiterated their shared commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific and the importance of upholding the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and peaceful resolution of disputes.