Modi’s policies akin to bullet trains — fast and reliable: Shinzo Abe
- HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
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- Updated: Dec 12, 2015 10:05 IST
PM Modi receives Abe Shinzo for the Business Leaders Forum (@MEAIndia Twitter Handle)
@AbeShinzo : PM
@narendramodi's economic policies are like Shinkansen-High speed, safe and reliable and carrying many people along
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia)
December 12, 2015
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made it clear that apart from high-speed trains, India needs high-speed growth.
Expanding economic and strategic cooperation: PM
@narendramodi begins address at the business leaders meet
pic.twitter.com/1P8PUNWHc8
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia)
December 12, 2015
Here are highlights of what the two said at the forum:
# A strong India is good for Japan and a strong Japan is good for India, said Abe
# Not just high speed train, India wants high speed growth, said Modi
# India is a land of possibilities with excellent human resources, a technological base & Japan has been there at every turning point, he added.
# Today there is a ‘Make in India’ movement in Japan with a $12 billion fund.
Expanding economic and strategic cooperation: PM
@narendramodi begins address at the business leaders meet
pic.twitter.com/1P8PUNWHc8
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia)
December 12, 2015
Later in the day, Modi and Abe are expected to discuss deals covering high-speed rail, defence and civilian nuclear technology.
A special friend & a valued partner. PM
@narendramodi receives PM
@AbeShinzo for the Business Leaders Forum
pic.twitter.com/fZfdjZ3XBd
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia)
December 12, 2015
The two countries are seeking to take advantage of that friendship, formed partly over their mutual desire to counter regional rival China’s growing influence, during Abe’s two-day visit.
Abe, who arrived in the capital on Friday for a three day visit, invited Indian companies to invest in Japan. Addressing the industry captains, Abe said “I want you, the representatives of the Indian industry to come and invest in Japan.”
Underlining the need to enhance mutual co-operation between the two largest democracies in Asia, Abe, who is here to attend the 9th annual Indo-Japan summit said, “A strong India is good for Japan and a strong Japan is good for India.” Co-operation between the two countries would ensure world peace and stability, he said at the Japan-India Innovation seminar, organized by the Japan External Trade Organisation along with CII, and other industry bodies among others.
Abe also said that once the Shinkasen – the bullet train -- is introduced in India, inter-city travel in the country could become easier and faster. A Japanese consortium has won the bid for the high-speed train corridor between Ahmedabad and Mumbai,
Hours after he arrived, external Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on Abe during which a host of issues of mutual interest figured.
Welcoming Abe, Modi described him as a “phenomenal leader” and said his trip will further deepen the bilateral relations.
“Welcome to India @AbeShinzo. Your visit will provide new strength and vigour to India-Japan ties,” Modi tweeted
During their summit on Saturday, Abe and Modi are likely to sign a number of agreements to expand cooperation in a range of areas and deliberate on several infrastructure projects including the ambitious smart cities initiative of Modi.
After the talks, he will leave for Varanasi, Modi’s Parliamentary constituency, where he will attend the famous Ganga aarti at the Dasaswamedh Ghat.
Modi will accompany Abe during his nearly four-and-a-half- hour-long visit to Varanasi. Abe will return here in the evening and depart on Sunday.
During Abe’s visit, the two sides are expected to ink deals worth Rs 98,000 crore which would include India’s first bullet train project. The civil nuclear pact is also likely to be deliberated upon.
The Japanese premier added that Japan has a lot to offer to India in terms of environment friendly technologies including the coal-fired power generation for cleaner energy. Abe also said that once the Shinkasen – the bullet train is introduced, inter-city travel in the country could become easier and faster.
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Japan in September 2014, Japan committed to doubling its investment in India to $35 billion over the next five years. The two countries also pledged to work towards industrial infrastructure development with the creation of smart community projects in six Indian states which form a part of the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) Project. Both the prime ministers are also expected to take stock of the progress of the decisions taken in the last one year.
Japan, which is the fourth largest investor in India, is also one of the largest bilateral donor.
At present, over 1, 200 Japanese firms are present in India, of which 137 started their operations after October 2013.