Business

Japanese PM keen on strengthening relations

— PHOTO: RAJEEV BHATT

FOR CLOSER TIES: Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe (left), being welcomed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on Tuesday.

NEW DELHI: The Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, on Tuesday called for further deepening of ties between Japan and India as he formally launched the India-Japan Partnership Forum floated by the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries to strengthen strategic relations between the two countries through political, economic, academic, social and cultural interactions.

Making brief remarks at the launch function attended by a large number of Members of Parliament besides captains of industry, he said he was looking forward to meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for exchanging ideas for making the relations between the two countries stronger and deeper and broader. The Japanese Prime Minister expressed the hope that the forum would play a pivotal role in bringing the two countries close politically, socially and culturally. Earlier, Arjun Asrani, former Ambassador of India to Japan, welcomed Mr. Abe. He and FICCI Chief, Habil Khorakiwala, said further strengthening of ties would enhance trade.

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