Guwahati: On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent his sincere condolences to the late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, often known as “Abe San.”
In his opening remarks, he expressed his personal grief because Abe was a close friend to his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida in Tokyo. “Today we are meeting in this hour of sorrow. The last time I came I had a long conversation with former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe. India is missing Shinzo Abe and remembering him and Japan,” said PM Modi during a bilateral meet with Japanese PM Fumio Kishida.
He claimed that Abe had elevated and broadened the ties between India and Japan to unprecedented heights.
“Abe took India and Japan relations to new heights and expanded it into many other areas. Our friendship played a key role in the growth of the global perspective. The people of India remember Abe San for all the good works he has done. They are missing Abe San. But, I do believe that under your leadership (Kishida), India-Japan relations will grow strong and will attain new heights and will play a major role in solving the problems of the world” the Indian Prime Minister remarked.
Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida congratulated PM Modi for attending Abe’s funeral and stated that both he and PM Abe improved relations between India and Japan.
“PM @narendramodi met Japanese PM @kishida230 & extended his deepest condolences on the untimely demise of former PM Shinzo Abe. Also had a useful exchange on further enhancing bilateral relations and working together towards realization of a free, open & inclusive Indo-Pacific,”The spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Arindam Bagchi, tweeted.
PM Modi will be present at the official funeral for Abe, who was killed later that day after being attacked on July 8 in the city of Nara while giving a campaign rally.
On July 8 in Nara, a city east of Osaka, Abe was shot as he delivered a speech during an election campaign rally. Abe was brought to the hospital, where at 5:03 p.m. he was declared dead.