Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that he is "shocked and saddened beyond words" at the tragic demise of one of his "dearest friends", Shinzo Abe, the former Prime Minister of Japan who died after being shot during a speech in Nara, Japan on Friday.
Calling him a towering global statesman, an outstanding leader and a remarkable administrator, PM Modi said that Abe dedicated his life to make Japan and the world a better place.
PM Modi recalled that his association with Abe goes back many years, having known the Japanese leader since his long stint as Gujarat Chief Minister. "And, our friendship continued after I became PM. His sharp insights on economy and global affairs always made a deep impression on me," he said.
Mr. Abe made an immense contribution to elevating India-Japan relations to the level of a Special Strategic and Global Partnership. Today, whole India mourns with Japan and we stand in solidarity with our Japanese brothers and sisters in this difficult moment.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 8, 2022
The Indian PM had recently met Shinzo Abe along with another former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori in Tokyo on May 24. Abe was taking over as the Chairperson of the Japan-India Association (JIA) which was established in 1903 and is one of the oldest friendship associations in the country.
Sharing a picture from my most recent meeting with my dear friend, Shinzo Abe in Tokyo. Always passionate about strengthening India-Japan ties, he had just taken over as the Chairman of the Japan-India Association. pic.twitter.com/Mw2nR1bIGz
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 8, 2022
"During my recent visit to Japan, I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Abe again and discuss many issues. He was witty and insightful as always. Little did I know that this would be our last meeting. My heartfelt condolences to his family and the Japanese people," PM Modi said in a series of tweets Friday afternoon.
The Special Strategic and Global Partnership between India and Japan, two major democracies in Asia, strengthened as the friendship between the two leaders blossomed ever since Modi visited Tokyo in 2014 for the first time after becoming PM.
Abe said that in order to build a win-win relationship through synergies between Modinomics and Abenomics he would like to set a common goal of doubling Japan's direct investment and the number of Japanese companies in India by 2019.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shinzo Abe, the then PM of Japan, visiting the Toji temple, in Kyoto, Japan on August 31, 2014
PM Modi attending a Japanese tea ceremony hosted by Shinzo Abe at Omotesenke tea hut in Tokyo
Shinzo Abe visits Dandi Kutir, in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, with PM Modi on September 14, 2017
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Shinzo Abe at an exhibition at Mahatma Mandir, in Gandhinagar, Gujarat on September 14, 2017
PM Modi presenting the book 'Mann Ki Baat – A Social Revolution on Radio' to Shinzo Abe in Gandhinagar
Shinzo Abe and PM Modi at Dashashwamedh Ghat, in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, on December 12, 2015
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing at the Joint Press Conference with the Shinzo Abe during his visit to Japan in November 2016
PM Modi is given a tour of the Kawasaki Heavy Industries Hyogo Plant by then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on November 12, 2016 in Kobe, Japan
PM Modi and Shinzo Abe depart for Tokyo by Express Train Kaiji on October 28, 2018
PM Modi and then Japanese PM Shinzo Abe visiting the FANUC Corporation, at Yamanashi, Japan on October 28, 2018
PM Modi and Shinzo Abe at the Joint Press Statement, in Tokyo, Japan on October 29, 2018
PM Narendra Modi and Shinzo Abe in a bilateral meeting, on the sidelines of 16th India-ASEAN Summit, in Bangkok, Thailand on November 4, 2019
PM Modi meeting the leaders of Japan-India Association including former Japanese Prime Ministers, Yoshiro Mori and Shinzo Abe, in Tokyo, Japan on May 24, 2022
