Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday met his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida and conveyed his deepest condolences for the demise of former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe. He said that Abe, who was assassinated in July, had taken India and Japan relations to new heights, and expanded them into many other areas.
In a tweet, PM Modi on Monday night shared details of his Tokyo visit and said that he would be paying last respects to Abe, who he remembered as “a dear friend and a great champion of India-Japan friendship”.
Japan began the state funeral with his widow Akie carrying his ashes into a Tokyo Hall where thousands of mourners gathered. Tributes were paid with flowers, prayers and a 19-gun salute.
“Our friendship played a key role in the growth of the global perspective. The people of India remember Abe San for all the good works he has done. They are missing Abe San,” Prime Minister Modi said. “But I do believe that under your leadership (Kishida), India-Japan relations will grow strong and will attain new heights and will play a major role in solving the problems of the world,” he added.
On July 8, Shinzo Abe was shot and killed while attending a campaign event. In addition to promoting a vision for an open and free Indo-Pacific region, Japan’s longest-serving prime minister played a pioneering role in the creation of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD), which brings together Australia, India, Japan, and the US.
