PM Modi holds informal talks with Abe; visits factory of industrial robot manufacturer

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe held informal talks at a picturesque resort near Mount Fuji and visited a factory of industrial robot manufacturer on Sunday as they spent about eight hours together on the first-day of a two-day summit.Modi, who arrived in Japan last evening to attend the 13th India-Japan annual summit, has said the partnership between the two countries has been fundamentally transformed and it has been strengthened as a ‘special strategic and global partnership’.The two-day summit beginning Sunday will seek to review the progress in ties and deepen strategic dimension of the bilateral relationship.Modi was affectionately received by Abe on his arrival at the Hotel Mount Fuji in the scenic Yamanashi prefecture, west of Tokyo.”Delighted to meet PM @AbeShinzo in the picturesque prefecture of Yamanashi,” Modi tweeted.The two leaders “would be holding talks through the day on deepening India-Japan ties,” Prime Minister Modi’s office said.The two leaders took a stroll in the garden following which Abe hosted a luncheon for Modi at the scenic resort by Mount Fuji.Modi presented Abe two handcrafted stone bowls and dhurries made from rose quartz and yellow quartz stone sourced from Rajasthan. A Jodhpuri wooden chest from Rajasthan with traditional work was also presented. The gifts were specially crafted on the occasion of Modi’s visit to Japan.After luncheon, both prime ministers visited the FANUC industrial facility, which specialises in automation.  “Taking our cooperation to modern and advanced technologies. PM @narendramodi and PM @AbeShinzo visited the FANUC Corporation, one of the largest makers of industrial robots in the world in #Yamanashi, and toured the robotics and automation facilities,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. Prime