Ahmedabad, 19 May, 2014

Based on Gujarat experience, we can safely say that one country that has special place in Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi’s heart is Japan. Shri Modi visited Japan more than once as Chief Minister of Gujarat. He took initiative to travel outside Ahmedabad to meet Japanese leader visiting India. Gujarat’s Vibrant Business Summit was partnered by Japan as a country. Japan has invested hugely in various projects in Gujarat in recent years.

On 16th May, as soon as the election results were out and BJP got clear majority, Japanese Ambassador Mr. Takeshi Yagi conveyed the congratulatory message from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Mr. Narendra Modi over a phone call. According to announcement on the website of Japanese embassy in India, Prime Minister Abe’s message was as follows:

1. I congratulate you on the victory of BJP in the General Elections. I look forward to cooperating with you for further development of the relationship between Japan and India.

2. I hope to develop the strategic cooperation between Japan and India through annual summit meetings.

In reaction to this, Shri Modi today tweeted: My gratitude to Prime Minister @AbeShinzo for extending his good wishes. Strong relations with Japan is beneficial for both our nations. Personally, I have a wonderful experience of working with Japan as CM. I am sure we will take India-Japan ties to newer heights.

Japanese newspaper Kyodo News reports that Narendra Modi and Shinzo Abe spoke for 15 minutes. Following is the report published in Kyodo: Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday invited Indian Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi to Japan as Tokyo aims to maintain sound relations with the emerging economy even after the change of government. The two leaders held a 15-minute telephone conversation after the victory of Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party in India’s general election was confirmed Friday. Abe extended his congratulations to Modi, expressing his desire to further strengthen Japan’s ties with India. “I believe the Japan-India relationship is a bilateral relation with the greatest potential,” he said, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

Also read: More global leaders call Modi