PM Modi will engage with Shinzo Abe on a range of issues including defence and regional security.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe today, ahead of the two-day summit in Japan to review the progress in ties and deepen strategic dimension of the bilateral relationship. This is PM Modi's 12th meeting with Shinzo Abe since he first visited Japan as prime minister in September 2014. Japan and Russia are the only two countries with which India holds an annual bilateral summit and has no ideological or strategic differences.
During the summit, PM Modi will engage with Mr Abe on a range of issues including defence and regional security.
According to All India Radio, PM Modi will be visiting the robotics and automation firm FANUC in Yamanashi and meet business leaders as well. He will be showcasing India as an attractive investment destination to the Japanese investors. Besides, he will also address a Make-in-India event in Tokyo. The Prime Minister will then participate in a community reception that will be attended by the Indian diaspora. Yamanashi, at a distance of around 110 kilometres from Tokyo, is surrounded by several mountains including Mount Fuji - the country's tallest peak at around 3,776 metres.
Here are the LIVE updates on PM Modi's visit to Japan:
Mr Abe hosted PM Modi at his personal villa near Lake Kawaguchi in Yamanashi. PM Modi is the first foreign leader to be invited to the villa.
The two leaders will hold a formal summit Monday in Tokyo, during which strengthening bilateral security and economic cooperation is expected to be high on the agenda.
Shinzo Abe today called PM Modi one of his most "dependable" friends, adding that he would like to strengthen bilateral cooperation to realise a free and open Indo-Pacific.
PM Abe said India is driving the region and the world's prosperity as a global power. "Prime Minister Modi is an outstanding leader of his great country."
"I have always believed and stated that the relationship between Japan and India is blessed with the largest potential in the world," he added.
PM Modi and Mr Abe visit Fanuc Corporation in Yamanashi Prefecture
PM Modi presented Shinzo Abe two handcrafted stone bowls and dhurries specially crafted on the occasion of his visit to Japan.
PM Modi and Japanese PM Abe take a stroll in the garden.
PM Modi first world leader at Shinzo Abe's Japan holiday home
Shinzo Abe will host PM Modi at his holiday home in Yamanashi for a private dinner today following which both the leaders will travel to Tokyo by train. They would be holding talks through the day on deepening India-Japan ties.
"This is very special gesture PM Abe is making. We believe this is the first time a foreign leader is visiting PM Abe's holiday home," Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale had said last week.
India is also hoping to have some kind of synergy or integration between PM Modi's Ayushman Bharat scheme, which is the largest medicare programme of its kind globally, and the Japanese programme which is called Asia Health and Wellbeing Initiative.
PM Modi's schedule for today1200 hrs: Meeting with PM Abe at Mt. Fuji Hotel, Yamanashi;
1230-1400 hrs: Lunch hosted by PM Abe
1420-1515 hrs: Visit to FANUC Corporation, Yamanashi
1700-1830 hrs: Tete-e-tete with PM Abe at his villa at Yamanashi
1930 hrs: Departure for Tokyo by Express train Kaiji accompanied by PM Abe
PM Modi and Mr Abe would be holding talks through the day on deepening India-Japan ties.
PM Modi received by Shinzo Abe at hotel Mount Fuji in Yamanashi.
This is PM Modi's third visit to Japan as the prime minister. Shinzo Abe, for his part, visited India in 2014, 2015 and 2017 as part of a growing engagement between the two countries.
On his arrival PM Modi was greeted by the Indian diaspora in Japan.
Japan and Russia are the only two countries with which India holds an annual bilateral summit and has no ideological or strategic differences.
PM Modi said it will be his 12th meeting with Shinzo Abe since he first visited Japan as prime minister in September 2014.