Modi returns from Japan

New Delhi: The successful visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Japan, his first bilateral trip outside the subcontinent, ended Wednesday with the Indian leader thanking the country for displaying its affection and warmth.

Elated over the success of the visit, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj went to the airport here to receive Modi and congratulate him for the same.

“I thank the people of Japan for the affection, warmth & wonderful hospitality during my visit. Thank you Japan,” the Prime Minister tweeted after his return. The same message was tweeted in Japanese language as well.

As he landed, Swaraj was there to receive him with a bouquet of flowers at the staircase of the special aircraft. She was seen telling something to Modi and the two shared a laugh.

“EAM @SushmaSwaraj ji told me that the visit has generated lot of positivity & optimism in India about our ties with Japan. Glad to know,” Modi said in another tweet.

Sources said Swaraj decided to go to the airport to meet Modi especially to convey her happiness over the “success” of the visit.

Normally, for the past several years, no minister received the Prime Minister at the airport when he returns from a foreign tour.

During his visit, Modi struck the chord with Japanese leadership and business community while inviting them to invest in India.

During the visit, Japan promised to give USD 35 billion to India over the next five years for developmental projects as the two sides agreed to enhance their strategic cooperation to a new level.

Modi visited the ‘smart city’ of Kyoto, besides Tokyo where he held talks with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe and met other leaders.

The two countries signed five pacts covering defence exchanges, cooperation in clean energy, roads and highways, healthcare and women while vowing to take their relationship to newer level.

Japan also lifted ban on six Indian entities, including Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which had been imposed in the aftermath of 1998 nuclear tests.

During the visit, Modi invited Japanese investments while hard-selling India as a conducive destination for business particularly for the manufacturing sector.

He told the Japanese businessmen that India was awaiting the investments with a ‘red carpet’ and not ‘red tape’ as rules and procedures have been eased by his government.

Modi expressed gratitude to Japan for reposing “trust” in India and demonstrating its friendship with a quip “yeh fevicol se be zyada mazboot jod hai (this bond is stronger than that of fevicol)”.

“This visit has been very successful,” he had said at the Indian community reception hosted in his honour in Tokyo.

Striking good personal chemistry, the two leaders had “very fruitful” exchanges.

Abe also went out of his way to receive Modi in Kyoto when he went there on August 30 in the first leg of his tour.

In Kyoto, a pact was signed under which Modi’s Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi would be developed on the pattern of Kyoto ‘smart city’ with the help of Japan.