Here are the live updates of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Gujarat visit:
India is very special to Japan said PM @AbeShinzo. pic.twitter.com/KjjY29GnmA
- PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 13, 2017
PM Modi, Shinzo Abe visit the historic Sidi Saiyyed Mosque
PM Modi, Shinzo Abe and his wife Akie Abe visited the famous Sidi Saiyyed Mosque in Ahmedabad after their visit to the Sabarmati Ashram, where they paid their respects to Mahatma Gandhi. The mosque is a symbol of a time when Gujarat dwelled and prospered under Muslim rule. It was built in 1573 under the regime of the last Sultanate of Gujarat.
A tiny glimpse of Japanese PM Shinzo Abe's India visit through the lens
Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, arrived today on a two-day visit, was accorded a warm welcome by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Ahmedabad airport. The PMs also visited the famous Sabarmati Ashram where they paid their respects to Mahatma Gandhi. Some of the moments have been captured beautifully on camera.
Japan PM Shinzo Abe changes into lovely blue Indian-style Nehru jacket as both the leaders set out for a grand roadshow. It begins from Ahmedabad airport and goes till Sabarmati Ashram. Mr Abe's wife Akie Abe is dressed in a beautiful pink coloured salwar-kameez.
As India welcomes PM @AbeShinzo, I thank him for his kind words on the robust India-Japan partnership and the strong potential of our ties. pic.twitter.com/TdnISF8E62
- Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 13, 2017
PM Abe arrived at #Ahmedabad, #India Warmly welcomed by PM Modi #AbeVisit pic.twitter.com/qp1gwB6ou6
- Motosada Matano (@motomatano) September 13, 2017
Security personnel wait in baited breath as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's plane lands on Indian soil
Indian community in Curaçao receiving those evacuated from Sint Maarten. pic.twitter.com/pwEP1Cm4LJ
- India in Venezuela (@IndiaVenezuela) September 13, 2017
PM Narendra Modi, Japan's Shinzo Abe and his wife Akie will have dinner tonight at Ahmedabad's famous Agashiye terrace restaurant.
The menu is mostly under wraps, but NDTV has learnt that it has been prepared by a team from the Taj group, along with Agashiye's own chefs. What is certain, however, is that the thali is all-vegetarian and it will feature PM Modi's favourite "Handvo" or vegetable cake, besides khichdi kadhi.
Some Japanese dishes will also be on offer, should the Japanese Prime Minister, his wife and other officials on the delegation wish for a taste of home.
"The two leaders will review the recent progress in the multifaceted cooperation between India and Japan under the framework of their 'Special Strategic and Global Partnership' and will set its future direction," PM Modi's website stated.
The two leaders will also visit Dandi Kutir, the museum dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi, at the Mahatma Mandir.
A red carpet's rolled, the building is wiped squeaky clean and there is even a board set up in Japanese language, as the mosque readies itself for a grand welcome of PM Narendra Modi and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe. Both leaders will visit the 16th century mosque this evening after a visit to Sabarmati Ashram.
A Municipal Corporation vehicle fumigates on the route of Prime minister Narendra Modi and Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abes forthcoming road show in Ahmedabad. (PTI Photo)
In the year 2014, Chinese Premier Xi Jinping visited Gujarat on PM Modi's birthday. PM Modi had gifted Mr Xi a copy of Hindu text, Bhagwad Gita. Both leaders wore Nehru jackets. It was PM Modi's 64th birthday on Wednesday and he spent the evening with his visitor, the first Chinese president to visit India in eight years.
Welcome to Gujarat#IndiaJapanAnnualSummit pic.twitter.com/IWX9M3LWER
- Vijay Rupani (@vijayrupanibjp) September 13, 2017
Thousands of people will line up along the 9-km stretch through which the cavalcade of the two VVIPs will pass. It will also have scores of children singing and dancing every few hundred metres, on 28 stages, to highlight myriad of cultures in India.
Tomorrow, PM Modi and Mr Abe would lay foundation stone of the much-touted Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train at Sabarmati Athletic Grounds near Sabarmati railway station.
With capacity to accommodate 750 people, the bullet train is expected to reduce travel time between the two cities from seven to roughly three hours. The train project, which is expected to be commissioned by the year 2022, will have a dozen halts.
A 21-km-long tunnel will be dug between Boisar and BKC in Mumbai, seven km of which will be under sea.
(Representational Image)
This afternoon, the two leaders begin their grand roadshow along a 9-km stretch from the Ahmedabad airport to Sabarmati Ashram
An hour later, they will then visit Mahatma Gandhi's Sabarmati Ashram
In the evening, the two leaders will visit Siddi Sayyaid ki Jaali, a 16th century mosque built in yellow sandstone in eastern Ahmedabad
The banks of Sabarmati river in the city are lit up in the colours of Indian national flag.
A day prior to Japan's PM Shinzo Abe's visit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state Gujarat, PM said that, "India truly values the relationship with Japan and we look forward to further boosting our bilateral ties in a wide range of sectors."
He also shared details of the preparations done in Gujarat ahead of Mr Abe's arrival. The city's is lit up in fluorescent colours.