Prime Minister Modi recalls “close friendship” with late Shinzo Abe during meeting with his wife

New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met with Akie Abe, wife of late former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and fondly recalled his close friendship with Shinzo Abe.

Prime Minister Modi also expressed his appreciation for Akie Abe’s continued commitment to India.

He shared a post on X and wrote: “Pleased to meet Ms. Abe this afternoon. Reminded me of my close personal friendship with former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.”

“Abe San's belief in the potential of India-Japan relations will remain a source of continued strength for us. I deeply value Ms. Abe's ongoing engagement with India,” the post on X continued.

Earlier, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar had already spoken to Akie Abe. He remembered Shinzo Abe and his commitment to the “friendship” between India and Japan.

He also said that the former Japanese Prime Minister's strategic vision will serve as a guide for India-Japan relations.

In a post on X, Mr Jaishankar said, “Meeting with Ms Akie Abe this morning brought back many memories of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his commitment to India-Japan friendship. As our relations continue to evolve, Prime Minister Abe's strategic vision will always guide us.”

Shinzo Abe was assassinated on July 8, 2022, during a campaign speech in the street in Nara. He was taken to the hospital, where Abe was pronounced dead.

Abe (67), former chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party and Japan's longest-serving prime minister, served from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2012 to 2020 before resigning for health reasons. Prime Minister Modi expressed condolences on Abe's death and attended the late Japanese prime minister's state funeral at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo on September 27, 2022.

According to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, Shinzo Abe delivered the famous “Confluence of Two Seas” speech in the Indian Parliament during his visit to India in 2007. He also attended the Republic Day celebrations as the guest of honour in 2014. In 2021, he was awarded India's highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan.

It is particularly noteworthy that India and Japan maintain a “special strategic and global partnership”. According to the MEA, the friendship between the two countries has a long history, rooted in spiritual ties and strong cultural and civilizational ties.

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