Union Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj hailed the historic ties between India and Japan on Thursday in Tokyo.

Addressing the Indian diaspora in the country, Swaraj, who arrived in Japan on Wednesday on a three-day visit, said the friendship between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe had helped build stronger ties between the two countries.

Hailing PM Modi’s global initiatives, Swaraj said the international community had become more accepting of India’s suggestions since 2014.

“In September 2014 at the United Nations General Assembly, the PM expressed his wish that 21 June is declared International Yoga Day. It was just a wish, not a proposal. But in 75 days, 177 countries became co-sponsors and a proposal was passed unanimously to officially declare the day,” Swaraj told the gathering.

She also cited examples like that of the international solar alliance.

Swaraj said recalled how PM Modi took the initiative on the formation of a global solar alliance with former French president Francois Hollande on the sidelines of the landmark 2015-Paris climate talks.

In March 2018, the ISA was officially inaugurated by PM Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron during the latter’s visit.

Conceptualised by India, the solar alliance currently has 121 member countries. Out of those, 60 have signed the solar treaty and some 30 have ratified it.

Speaking at the Vivekananda Cultural Centre located within the premises of the Indian Embassy in Tokyo, the EAM said she felt her foreign visits were incomplete if she didn’t meet the Indian diaspora.

“I feel that my visits are incomplete if I am unable to meet Indian diaspora,” Swaraj said adding that she especially requested the Indian Ambassador to Japan, Sujan Chinoy, to arrange the meet.

The EAM is scheduled to co-chair the 9th India-Japan Strategic Dialogue with her Japanese counterpart Taro Kono later on Wednesday.

“The two sides will review all aspects of bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and international issues of common interest,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said in a statement.

India and Japan concluded a Special Strategic and Global Partnership during the visit of PM Modi to Japan in 2014 – his first outside of India’s neighbourhood. Abe had also visited India in September 2017.

This is Swaraj’s first visit to Japan as External Affairs Minister. She will depart Japan on Friday.