Modi leaves for Japan to attend Abe’s funeral
The state funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Japan.
PM Modi tweeted shortly after Abe was assassinated: “a towering global statesman, an outstanding leader, and a remarkable administrator”. ‘I have lost a dear friend.’, he further wrote on twitter.
On July 8, Abe, Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, was murdered while while campaigning for the election.
In honour of Abe, who was crucial in cementing ties between India and Japan, India had announced a day of national mourning in order to pay tribute to Japanese PM Shinzo Abe.
Modi leaves for Japan to attend Abe’s funeral
When recalling his first encounter with the late Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, Indian Prime Minister Modi wrote in an opinion piece, “I first met him in 2007, during my visit to Japan as the chief minister of Gujarat. Right from that first meeting, our friendship went beyond the trappings of office and the shackles of official protocol.”
When PM Modi later recalled his final meeting with Abe, he said, “He had innovative ideas on how to further strengthen the India-Japan friendship. When I said goodbye to him that day, little did I imagine that it would be our final meeting. I will always be indebted to him for his warmth and wisdom, grace and generosity, friendship and guidance, and I will miss him dearly”.
