I am happy to have this opportunity to extend my felicitations to all those associated with the events being taken up in the “Japan Year in India” as part of the India-Japan Friendship Year 2007.
Japan and India are two civilizations that have enriched each other in the course of our varied interaction throughout history. I believe that the richness and warmth of our relations today is strengthened by these enduring bonds.
During my visit to Japan in December 2006, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and I agreed to establish a Strategic and Global Partnership between India and Japan. Both of us articulated the shared conviction that this partnership must be based on the foundations of close people-to-people links to help elevate our traditionally friendly and cooperative ties to a higher level. Initiatives such as the “Japan Year in India” will contribute substantially to this noble objective.
I wish the Festival of Japan in India all success.
Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister |
New Delhi
January 31, 2007
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