The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today witnessed the signing of the Varanasi-Kyoto Partner City affiliation MoU between the Governments of India and Japan at the State Guest House Kyoto. The agreement was signed by Smt. Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa, Ambassador of India in Japan, and Mr. Daisaku Kadokawa, the Mayor of Kyoto.
The MoU focuses on heritage conservation, and cooperation in art, culture and academics. It will also serve as a framework for the smart heritage cities programme.
The Prime Minister was received by Mr. Shinzo Abe, the Prime Minister of Japan at the State Guest House in Kyoto. Mr. Abe travelled from Tokyo to Kyoto to personally receive the Prime Minister.
Shri Narendra Modi also fed fish at the State Guest House in the presence of the Japanese Prime Minister, who hosted a dinner for Shri Modi.
Earlier today, the Prime Minister arrived at Kansai International Airport, Osaka. He was received by Mr. Yagi, Ambassador of Japan in India, and Mr. Yamazaki, Chief of Protocol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs,Government of Japan, and the Ambassador of India in Japan, Smt. Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa.
In the elegant setting of the Imperial Guest House in Kyoto, Prime Minister Modi sat down with his host, Prime Minister Abe, at a traditional dining table for over one and half hours for an exceptionally warm and friendly conversation over a traditional Japanese meal this evening. Their discussion was marked by a great deal of mutual respect and admiration and convergence of views.
The two Prime Ministers spoke about the ancient cultural and religious links between the countries, which were not known widely. They felt that the commencement of Prime Minister Modi’s visit in Kyoto, the old capital city and an important centre of Buddhism, highlighted this important spiritual foundations of India-Japan relations. They both keenly looked forward to visiting the ancient Toji Temple, which was a symbol of this link, the following morning. The MoU between Varanasi and Kyoto, signed earlier in the evening in their presence, was yet another reflection of working together to foster cooperation to address contemporary challenges on the strength of their shared heritage.
Prime Minister Modi also mentioned his plan to visit Centre for iPS Cell Research in Kyoto the next morning as part of his desire to seek advanced solutions through stem cell research for health challenges he had seen in India.
Prime Minister Abe spoke with great enthusiasm and strong conviction about India and the importance of India-Japan relations for Japan and the region. Prime Minister Modi described Japan as one of India’s closest and most important partners and spoke about his own admiration and affinity for Japan and his high hopes from the relationship.
Source PIB
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