Modi, Abe discuss global economy, other key issues

Osaka: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday held wide-ranging talks with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe on the global economy, issues of fugitive economic offenders and disaster management and announced that the Indian President will participate in the coronation ceremony of Emperor Naruhito in October.

It was the first meeting between the two leaders since the start of Japan's Reiwa era and Modi's re-election after the general polls.

Modi thanked Abe for his warm welcome to him and the Indian delegation visiting Japan for the G20 Summit. He also appreciated Japan's leadership as the G20 chairman.

The prime minister said that President Ram Nath Kovind will participate in the coronation ceremony of Emperor Naruhito in October.

The prime minister congratulated Abe and Japan's citizens for the start of the Reiwa era. The term for the new era is made up of the two characters Rei and Wa. Rei means "commands" or "order", as well as "auspicious" or "good". Wa means "harmony", and is also used in the Japanese word for "peace".

Prime Minister Modi said that he was looking forward to the visit of Abe to India later this year for the Annual Summit.

Later, briefing media, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said it was a "warm" meeting the two prime ministers who are "old friends" and they had a "very constructive and detailed discussion" on the bilateral relationship.

"Abe initially began the discussion with his expectation from the G20 Summit. They spoke about the importance of focussing on the global economy," Gokhale said.

Abe referred to the PM Modi's initiatives on the earlier G20 meetings on the issue of fugitive economic offenders and he said the G20 should deal with this problem as part of its anti-corruption measures.

Abe also underlined the need to find appropriate measures to check the global trade issues and data flows and underlined that the G20 should also come up with a constructive message on the issue of climate change.

"These are the areas where Abe hoped that he would get the understanding and support of the G20 members, including that of India," Gokhale said.

PM Abe also referred to his forthcoming visit to India for the Annual Bilateral Summit.