On May 19, 2014, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held telephone talks with Mr. Narendra Modi, Prime Minister Designate of India.

1. Prime Minister Abe mentioned as follows:

(1) I wholeheartedly congratulate you on the historic victory of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the General Elections. Japan and India are sharing fundamental values and strategic interests as the two biggest democratic countries in Asia, and I believe Japan-India relationship is blessed with "the largest potential for development of any bilateral relationship anywhere in the world."

(2) I would like to work closely with you towards further development of the Japan-India Strategic and Global Partnership. For that purpose, I would like to invite you to Japan to continue the annual summit meetings between the Prime Ministers of Japan and India.

2. In response, Mr. Narendra Modi, Prime Minister Designate, stated as follows:

(1) I would like to thank you very much for your warmhearted congratulatory statement. Japan has made a significant contribution to the development of India. I would like to express my deep gratitude to the Japanese people and the Japanese government.

(2) Japan and India are traditionally tied with common cultural values, and we are recently promoting our mutual strategic partnership. India is facing various problems in domestically and internationally, but I will work to squarely address these problems since we are given a clear mandate by the people of India.

(3) Personally, I have a wonderful experience of working with you, and I would like to cooperate with you to take India-Japan ties to newer heights from now on. I appreciate your inviting me to visit Japan. I look forward to meeting you.