PM Modi leaves for Japan on a five-day visit

The PM is scheduled to meet his counterpart Shinzo Abe privately in Kyoto before holding official talks in Tokyo where the duo is expected boost trade ties between the top two Asian economies.

The PM will seek Japanese support in infrastructural developments, in areas to strengthen defence ties and especially on the sale of an amphibious aircraft to the Indian navy.

“During this visit, I propose to celebrate these links of history and the experiences of our peoples, and impart new meaning to them. We will explore how Japan can associate itself productively with my vision of inclusive development in India, including the transformation of India’s manufacturing, infrastructure sectors, energy and social sectors,” Modi said in a statement on Friday before leaving for his first bilateral visit outside India’s immediate neighbourhood.

Modi is traveling with a large delegation including names like Reliance's Mukesh Ambani and software giant Wipro's Azim Premji.

"We will discuss how to boost our defence and security cooperation, including in defence technology, equipment and industry, in line with the evolving domestic policies of the two countries. I will try to accelerate progress on the unfinished agenda of projects and initiatives that our two countries have embarked upon,” he said.

Confident Modi said that his visit would write a new chapter in the annals of the relations between Asia’s two oldest democracies and take forward India’s Strategic and Global Partnership to the next higher level.