Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the Sabarmati Ashram here on Wednesday.
Japanese Prime Minister is on a two-day visit to Gujarat.
According to sources, the two leaders and Japan’s first lady Akie Abe paid floral tributes to a portrait and a bust of Mahatma Gandhi at the ashram and also signed on the visitors’ book of the ashram.
PM Shri @narendramodi and PM of Japan @AbeShinzo at Sabarmati riverfront. #SwagatShinzoSan pic.twitter.com/4g5BwR0E95
— BJP (@BJP4India) September 13, 2017
The Sabarmati Ashram was home to Gandhi from 1917 until 1930 and served as one of the main centres of the Indian freedom struggle.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi personally received Abe at the Sardar Vallabhhai Patel International airport, sources said.
Later, the two leaders and the Japan’s first lady boarded an open jeep from the airport and proceeded towards the Sabarmati Ashram.
LIVE : Rousing reception for PM Shri @narendramodi & Japanese PM @AbeShinzo in Gujarat. Watch at https://t.co/KkriL0kU3T #SwagatShinzoSan pic.twitter.com/niXfifaNN7
— BJP (@BJP4India) September 13, 2017
On Thursday, Modi and Abe will participate in the stone laying ceremony of the Rs 1.08 lakh crore Ahmedabad-Mumbai high-speed rail project at the Athletic Stadium near Sabarmati railway station. With capacity to accommodate 750 people, the bullet train is expected to reduce travel time between the two cities from seven to roughly three hours.
They will also chair the 12th Annual Bilateral Summit in Gandhinagar. Japan and Russia are the only two countries with which India has such an annual summit mechanism.
This will be the fourth annual summit between Modi and Abe, where they are expected to review the progress between the countries under the framework of their Special Strategic and Global Partnership.
The two Prime Ministers will also attend an India-Japan Business Leaders Forum.
(With agency inputs)