Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Dec 7: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh represented the Government today at the 83rd birthday reception of the Emperor of Japan, Akihito.
The Ministry of External Affairs had recommended the name of Dr Jitendra Singh to be the chief guest at the official reception hosted at the residence of Japanese Ambassador at Chanakyapuri here.
The event was marked by formal receiving of Dr Jitendra Singh by the Ambassador of Japan Kenji Hiramatsu and his wife Patricia Hiramatsu, followed by ceremonial rendition of the national anthems of India and Japan respectively, and later, an official reception in the lawns of Japanese Embassy attended by senior diplomats from different embassies, officers from Government of India as well as business and trade leaders of Japanese companies.
Congratulating the Ambassador on his behalf as well as on behalf of the Government of India, Dr Jitendra Singh observed that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the last two years, relations between India and Japan have made a new headway and have also got diversified in different areas of mutual collaboration. He referred to the recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Japan which resulted in concluding a highly significant nuclear agreement between the two countries and is, in a way, a reiteration of the commitment of two countries towards peaceful use of nuclear energy to meet the emerging needs in the years to come.
Dr Jitendra Singh also recalled the visit of Prime Minister Shinz? Abe to New Delhi earlier this year and said, the personal rapport between Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Abe has made it easier for the two nations to plan collaboration even in such areas where it was not expected till a few years ago. He also referred to the massive cooperation going to be made available by Japan for setting up “bullet train” railway service in India. He said, the two countries share traditional ties and together have the potential to emerge as Asian giants.
Welcoming the Minister, Japanese Ambassador Kenji Hiramatsu appreciated the warmth and goodwill that he had received, as Ambassador, from the people of India and the government of India, ever since he was posted in New Delhi over a year ago. He referred to several new initiatives between the two countries undertaken through the joint efforts of Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Abe.
On behalf the Government of Japan and the Japanese Embassy, he thanked Dr Jitendra Singh for having spared time to put on record India’s felicitations to Emperor Akihito on his birthday.
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