In Japan, Narendra Modi and Shinzo Abe bond over temple tour; will hold talks today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi shakes hands with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe during a dinner at state guest house in Kyoto, Japan, on August 30, 2014. (PTI photo)
NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi will look to cement strategic and defence cooperation with Japan when he meets his counterpart Shinzo Abe on Monday for crucial summit talks. In a move not likely to go unnoticed in Beijing, India is all set to ink an agreement for supply of rare earth metals to Japan and another MoU for defence exchanges.
Japan, which depends on China for most of its supply of rare earth metals, has been looking to diversify its supply sources. It sought cooperation from India over rare earths in 2012 after a fracas with China over Senkaku/Diaoyu islands which saw Beijing temporarily halting rare earth exports to Japan.
The two countries are expected to announce a joint partnership for infrastructure development in India with a major contribution from Japan. They are also likely to upgrade their 2+2 dialogue over overlapping security and defence issues to the ministerial level. India will also look to announce some progress in its negotiations with Japan for nuclear cooperation.
Modi arrived in Tokyo on Sunday evening after a Kyoto heritage tour. Modi's visit is already being hailed as an outstanding success after Abe's gesture of flying to Kyoto to receive him there on Saturday. Modi on Sunday visited two ancient Buddhist temples in Kyoto in Abe's company.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi (left) and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe (centre) during their visit in Toji temple in Kyoto, western Japan, on August 31, 2014. (PTI photo)
Dressed in an all-white kurta pyjama, sleeveless jacket and white sandals, Modi offered prayers at the two prominent Buddhist temples in Kyoto — Toji and Kinkakuji. Official sources said Modi wearing white was a statement about peace and tranquility associated with Buddhism, an Indian "connect'' to Japan.
He first went to Toji temple, which is inspired, as Modi told Abe, by the trinity of Hindu gods Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. Modi was at the temple complex for about half-an-hour during which he enquired about the history of the eighth-century Buddhist pagoda.
While leaving the complex, Modi thanked Abe for accompanying him to the temple and spending time with him. Abe, on his part, told Modi that this was only the second time that he had visited Toji temple, the last being during his student days.
In Kinkakuji, Modi mingled with tourists and visitors, shook hands, pulled the ears of a child and posed for photographs with groups of people.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi poses for a photo with tourists during his visit at Golden Pavilion Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan, on August 31, 2014. (PTI photo)
Abe lauds deep India-Japan historical ties
Lauding Japan's deep historical ties with India, Abe said he was looking forward to the summit meeting with Modi after they spent time together visiting Buddhist temples. "Looking forward to seeing PM Modi again in Tokyo tomorrow," the Japanese PM tweeted.
Japan, which depends on China for most of its supply of rare earth metals, has been looking to diversify its supply sources. It sought cooperation from India over rare earths in 2012 after a fracas with China over Senkaku/Diaoyu islands which saw Beijing temporarily halting rare earth exports to Japan.
The two countries are expected to announce a joint partnership for infrastructure development in India with a major contribution from Japan. They are also likely to upgrade their 2+2 dialogue over overlapping security and defence issues to the ministerial level. India will also look to announce some progress in its negotiations with Japan for nuclear cooperation.
Modi arrived in Tokyo on Sunday evening after a Kyoto heritage tour. Modi's visit is already being hailed as an outstanding success after Abe's gesture of flying to Kyoto to receive him there on Saturday. Modi on Sunday visited two ancient Buddhist temples in Kyoto in Abe's company.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi (left) and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe (centre) during their visit in Toji temple in Kyoto, western Japan, on August 31, 2014. (PTI photo)
Dressed in an all-white kurta pyjama, sleeveless jacket and white sandals, Modi offered prayers at the two prominent Buddhist temples in Kyoto — Toji and Kinkakuji. Official sources said Modi wearing white was a statement about peace and tranquility associated with Buddhism, an Indian "connect'' to Japan.
He first went to Toji temple, which is inspired, as Modi told Abe, by the trinity of Hindu gods Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. Modi was at the temple complex for about half-an-hour during which he enquired about the history of the eighth-century Buddhist pagoda.
While leaving the complex, Modi thanked Abe for accompanying him to the temple and spending time with him. Abe, on his part, told Modi that this was only the second time that he had visited Toji temple, the last being during his student days.
In Kinkakuji, Modi mingled with tourists and visitors, shook hands, pulled the ears of a child and posed for photographs with groups of people.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi poses for a photo with tourists during his visit at Golden Pavilion Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan, on August 31, 2014. (PTI photo)
Abe lauds deep India-Japan historical ties
Lauding Japan's deep historical ties with India, Abe said he was looking forward to the summit meeting with Modi after they spent time together visiting Buddhist temples. "Looking forward to seeing PM Modi again in Tokyo tomorrow," the Japanese PM tweeted.
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