Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida on Saturday, May 20, 2023, and later unveiled a bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Hiroshima during his visit to the city to attend the annual summit of the G7 grouping and the third in-person Quad leaders' meeting.
The talks took place on the sidelines of the summit of the Group of Seven advanced economies in Hiroshima. While India is presently holding the presidency of the G20 grouping, Japan is the chair of G7.
During Mr. Modi's meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister, the two leaders discussed ways to enhance India-Japan friendship across different sectors including trade, economy and culture.
Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, in a tweet, said, "PM Narendra Modi and PM Fumio Kishida of Japan held warm and productive talks." "Discussed ways to synergise efforts of respective G-7 and G-20 Presidencies, and the need to highlight the voice of Global South. Also exchanged views on contemporary regional developments and on deepening cooperation in the Indo-Pacific," he said.
"Leaders discussed ways to further strengthen the bilateral Special Strategic and Global Partnership. Education, skill development, tourism, high technology and digital public infrastructure were covered," the MEA spokesperson added.
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‘A befitting tribute to Hiroshima’
Later, Prime Minister Mr. Modi unveiled a bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Hiroshima. The world gets frightened even today when it hears the word ‘Hiroshima’, Mr. Modi said as he unveiled a bust of Mahatma Gandhi, an apostle of peace, here in this Japanese city.
“Even today, the world gets frightened when it hears the word Hiroshima. I got the opportunity to unveil a bust of Mahatma Gandhi during my visit to Japan for the G7 Summit,” Mr. Modi said after unveiling the bust.
“I want to thank the Japanese Government for placing the bust in Hiroshima and giving me the opportunity to unveil it,” he said.
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The United States conducted the world’s first atomic attack on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, destroying the city and killing some 140,000 people.
The world today is grappling with climate change and terrorism, Mr. Modi said, asserting that the best solution to win the fight against the climate crisis was by following Gandhi’s ideals.
He said the real tribute to Gandhi will be following his ideals.
“The bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Hiroshima will take forward the idea of non-violence.
Bodhi tree
“It is a great moment for me to know that the Bodhi tree that I gifted to the Japanese Prime Minister has been planted here in Hiroshima so that people can understand the importance of peace when they come here. I pay my respect to Mahatma Gandhi,” he said.
Mr. Modi interacted with the Indian diaspora in Hiroshima after unveiling the bust sculpted by Padma Bhushan awardee Ram Vanji Sutar.
Dignitaries present at the unveiling ceremony included Kazumi Matsui, Mayor of Hiroshima City; Tatsunori Motani, Speaker of the Hiroshima City Assembly; Members of Parliament from Hiroshima and senior government officials; members of the Indian community and followers of Gandhi in Japan.
Mr. Modi also interacted with renowned Japanese artist Hiroko Takayama and author, Hindi and Punjabi linguist, Tomio Mizokami, and lauded them for their contributions in bringing the two countries closer.
“Met Ms. Hiroko Takayama, a respected artist who has a close association with India. She has worked extensively on enhancing the cultural bonds between India and Japan. She also presented her artwork to me,” he tweeted.
“In Hiroshima, I was glad to interact with Professor Tomio Mizokami. A Padma Awardee, he is a distinguished Hindi and Punjabi linguist. He has made numerous efforts to make Indian culture and literature popular among the people of Japan,” he said.
Mr. Modi arrived in Hiroshima on Friday on the first leg of his three-nation trip to Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia and is expected to take part in over 40 engagements.
"Landed in Hiroshima to join the G7 Summit proceedings. Will also be having bilateral meetings with various world leaders," Mr. Modi tweeted.
In his departure statement, the Prime Minister had said he was looking forward to exchanging views with the G7 countries and other invited partners on challenges that the world faces and the need to collectively address them.
Mr. Modi is visiting Hiroshima from May 19 to 21 primarily for the annual summit of the G7 advanced economies in which he is expected to speak on challenges facing the globe, including food, fertiliser and energy security.
The Prime Minister is expected to hold bilateral meetings with some of the world leaders attending the Hiroshima G7 Summit.
The G-7 bloc comprises Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada and Italy, as well as the European Union.
