Quad leaders express shock at Shinzo Abe’s assassination as India observes national mourning today

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<strong>In a joint statement, leaders of the Quad partners India, the United States and Australia today expressed their shock at the tragic assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday.</strong></p>
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"Prime Minister Abe was a transformative leader for Japan and for Japanese relations with each one of our countries. He also played a formative role in the founding of the Quad partnership, and worked tirelessly to advance a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific," said a statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.<br />
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"Our hearts are with the people of Japan — and Prime Minister Kishida— in this moment of grief. We will honor Prime Minister Abe’s memory by redoubling our work towards a peaceful and prosperous region," it added.<br />
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India is observing a one day national mourning today  as a mark of deepest respect for Abe, a great friend of the country. </p>
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Observing one-day <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/national?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#national</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/mourning?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#mourning</a> as a mark of respect to Late Hon'ble Shinzo Abe, former <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/primeminister?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#primeminister</a> of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Japan?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Japan</a> , <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/national?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#national</a> flag & <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/services?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#services</a> flags were flown half-mast at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NationalWarMemorial?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NationalWarMemorial</a> today.<a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PMOIndia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MEAIndia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/IndianEmbTokyo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IndianEmbTokyo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/japan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@japan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/JapanGov?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JapanGov</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/JapaninIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JapaninIndia</a> <a href="https://t.co/kSb0By7nI0">pic.twitter.com/kSb0By7nI0</a></p>
— राष्ट्रीय समर स्मारक / NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL (@salute2soldier) <a href="https://twitter.com/salute2soldier/status/1545614249078075396?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The National Flag is being flown at half-mast throughout India on all buildings where the National Flag is flown regularly and there will be no official entertainment on the day.</p>
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During his visit to India in August 2007 as Prime Minister, Abe delivered his famous 'The Confluence of Two Seas' speech in the Indian Parliament, in which he stated that India-Japan relationship is blessed with the largest potential for development of bilateral relationship anywhere in the world. His efforts have been instrumental in bringing India and Japan together to realize a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.<br />
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"Mr. Abe’s immense contributions elevated the India-Japan relationship to the level of a Special Strategic and Global Partnership. A large number of milestone projects between India and Japan were initiated during his tenure as the Prime Minister of Japan. The awarding of India’s second highest civilian award, Padma Vibhushan, to Mr. Abe is testament to the respect and warmth that he enjoyed in India," the External Affairs Ministry had said on Friday.<br />
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Abe had also recently assumed the leadership of both the Japan India Parliamentary Friendship League (JIPFL) and Japan India Association (JIA), a reflection of his deep commitment to bolstering the India – Japan partnership.</p>
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