Japan PM Shinzo Abe Arrives On Two-Day Visit, PM Modi Receives Him With Warm Hug

Robust security arrangements have been put in place for the 12th Indo-Japan Summit and business meet where Japanese companies are likely to announce major investments in Gujarat.

The two Prime Ministers will also attend an India-Japan Business Leaders Forum.

Abe was presented a guard of honour at the airport, after which artistes performed the traditional Gujarati dance showcasing the state's rich cultural traditions.

The twin cities of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, which will host a slew of programmes during the high-profile visit, are all decked up to welcome the foreign dignitary with streets shimmering in fluorescent lights, and hoardings and banners welcoming Abe dotting them.

Japan is one of only two countries with which India has such an annual summit mechanism, the other being Russia.

Both leaders are expected to review the progress in the multifaceted cooperation between India and Japan under the framework of their Special Strategic and Global Partnership.

This will be the fourth annual summit between Modi and Abe.

In a special gesture, Modi personally received Abe with a warm hug at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad.

Thereafter, they will hold the 12th Annual Bilateral Summit in Gandhinagar following which a number of agreements are expected to be signed.

On Thursday, Modi and Abe will participate in the ground breaking ceremony of the high-speed rail project at the Athletic Stadium near Sabarmati railway station.

The two leaders are scheduled to visit the historic Sabarmati Ashram and the iconic 16th century mosque in the old city, Sidi Saiyad Mosque, on Wednesday.

A group of Buddhist monks were also present at the airport to welcome Abe and his wife.

During his visit Abe will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and both will lay the foundation stone of the ambitious Rs 1.08 lakh crore ($17 billion) Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrived in Ahmedabad on Wednesday on a two-day visit to India.