Modi holds wide-ranging talks with Abe

The two sides had sealed a broad agreement on nuclear deal during Mr. Abe’s visit to India but the final deal was yet to be signed.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi being greeted by his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe upon his arrival for their meeting at Abe's official residence in Tokyo, on Friday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held wide-ranging talks with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe in Tokyo, aimed at giving a fillip to the bilateral strategic relations.

“Reviewing the strength of a Special Strategic and Global Partnership. PM @narendramodi and PM @AbeShinzo lead delegation level talks,” External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted along with a picture of the meeting.

Ahead of the talks, Mr. Modi was accorded a guard of honour at Kantei, the Japanese Prime Minister’s official residence.

“The ceremonies that strengthen a time tested friendship. PM @narendramodi receives formal honours at Kantei,” Mr. Swarup tweeted along with some photographs of the occasion.

After his arrival in Japan on Thursday, Mr. Modi tweeted that he was looking forward to fruitful deliberations that will boost economic and cultural ties between India and Japan.

At their annual Summit, Mr. Modi and Mr. Abe will discuss ways to enhance ties in a broad range of areas, including security, trade and investment, skill development and infrastructure development.

After the talks, about 12 pacts will be signed by the two sides, sources said, adding these would cover areas like skill development, cultural exchanges and infrastructure.

Also, a civil nuclear deal is likely to be signed on Friday.

The two sides had sealed a broad agreement during Mr. Abe’s visit to India in last December but the final deal was yet to be signed as certain technical and legal issues were to be thrashed out.

Both the countries have completed the internal procedures, including legal and technical aspects of the text of the pact, Mr. Swarup said last week. When specifically asked whether the pact will be signed during Mr. Modi’s visit, he said, “I cannot pre-judge the outcome of the talks.”

Negotiations on the nuclear deal between the two sides have been going on for a number of years but the progress on these was halted because of political resistance in Japan after the 2011 disaster at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant.