From making cars, India and Japan are now cooperating on bullet trains: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday the ties between India and Japan have become stronger from the time the two countries cooperated to make a car to coming together to manufacture the bullet trains. Addressing the Indian community in this Japanese city, Prime Minister Modi said Japan has played an important role in India's economic development.

PM Modi said the bilateral ties are going to become more robust as India aims to become a USD 5 trillion economy in the next five years.
"There was a time when we were collaborating in building cars and today we are collaborating in building a bullet train," said Modi, who is here to attend the G20 Summit to be held in Osaka from Friday.

"Today there is no such part of India where Japan's projects or investments have not left its mark. Similarly, talent and manpower of India are contributing to strengthen Japan," he told the enthusiastic Indian diaspora who gave a rousing welcome to the Prime Minister.

India is planning to run its first bullet train between Mumbai and Ahmedabad with Japan's help. The first stretch of the ambitious project is expected to be completed by 2022. The National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHRSCL) is in the process of acquiring land for the 508-kilometer project.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also said the ties between India and Japan will become stronger in 'New India' as he thanked the Indian diaspora for being part of the world's largest democratic process, which saw the participation of 61 crore voters. 

"When it comes to India's relationship with the world, Japan has an important place in it. This relationship is dated back to centuries. There is a sense of belonging, goodwill and respect for each other's culture and civilization," PM Modi said while addressing an enthusiastic Indian community at Kobe. 

"Almost two decades ago, prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the then Japanese premiere Yoshiro Mori together made our relationship as a global partnership. After becoming Prime Minister in 2014, I got a chance to strengthen our friendship with my dear friend Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. 

"This relationship," Modi said, "will become stronger in New India".  Thanking the Indian diaspora for playing a vital role in the recently concluded Indian elections, in which Modi was voted back to power with stronger mandate, the prime minister said while several Indians from Japan came to India and worked on the field, many used social media like Twitter to spread the message of the democratic process. 

He noted that 61 crore voters, 10 lakh polling stations, over 40 lakh EVMs and more than 8,000 candidates took part in the world's largest democratic process.The number of voters who participated in the Lok Sabha elections exceeded the population of almost all countries, barring China, he said. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was accorded warm welcome by members of the Indian community in Japan on Thursday after he arrived here for the G20 Summit. “Reached Osaka to join the #G20 Summit. Grateful to the dynamic Indian community for the warm welcome! (sic)” Modi tweeted. This will be Prime Minister Modi’s sixth G20 Summit which is being held at Osaka on June 28-29.

Here are the highlights from PM Modi's address at iconic Hyogo House in Kobe: 

16.43 pm: 

#WATCH Japan: Slogans of 'Vande Mataram', 'Jai Sri Ram' raised at community event at the Hyogo Prefecture Guest House, in Kobe after the conclusion of PM Narendra Modi's address. pic.twitter.com/E5C2kAtpWL

— ANI (@ANI) June 27, 2019

16.33 pm: This is my fourth trip to Japan as Prime Minister. Experience an affinity, an affinity towards India in Japan in visits. Pride of our civilization and our values, making Talent and Technology a part of nation building, I have experienced direct experience in Japan: PM Modi. 

16.31 pm: We are working to fulfill the aspirations of new India: PM Modi.  

16.27 pm: We are working round the clock to make India 5 trillion economy: PM Modi.

16.27 pm: What is called 'dhyan' in India is called 'Zen' in Japan. And what's called 'seva' in India is also called 'seva' in Japan: PM Modi addresses the diaspora in Japan.

16.26 pm: There was a time when we were collaborating in building cars and today we are collaborating in building a bullet train. Today there is no such part of India where Japan's projects or investments have not left its mark. Similarly Talent and Manpower of India are contributing to strengthen Japan: PM Modi. 

16.25 pm: Apart from Delhi, I got the privilege of carrying Ahmedabad and Varanasi Prime Minister Abe. Prime Minister Abe joined the Ganga Arti in Kashi, one of my parliamentary regions and one of the world's oldest cultural and spiritual cities. These pictures have settled in the mind of every Indian: PM Modi. 

16.23 pm: Almost two decades ago, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji and Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori ji together made our relationship as a global partnership: PM Modi.

16.23 pm: After becoming Prime Minister in 2014, I got a chance to strengthen my friendship with my friend Prime Minister Shinzo Abe: PM Modi. 

16.22 pm: Swami Vivekananda, Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, Mahatma Gandhi, Neta ji Subhash Chandra Bose, Justice Radhabinod Pal, many Indians strengthened India's relationship with Japan. And that's why after World War-2, India and Japan's relationship grew all the more strong: PM Modi. 

16.19 pm: "61 crore voters of India are more than the population of any other country in the world": PM Modi

16.16 pm: This election was a big festival of democracy & was a victory of truth & democracy: PM Modi. 

16.15 pm: "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas aur Sabka Vishwas", we are going ahead with this mantra. India will be made stronger.

16.14 pm: 130 Crore Indians formed an even stronger government. This is big. After three decades, for the first time, a govt with clear majority formed govt for the second time in a row: PM Modi. 

16.12 pm: Every Indian should be proud of its democratic power: PM Modi. 

16.11 pm: I'm fortunate to be here once again after 7 months. It's a coincidence that last time I was here, election results were out here&you had shown trust in my dear friend Shinzo Abe. Today when I'm here,largest democracy has shown even greater trust in this Pradhan Sevak

16.02 pm: After 1971, the people of India has given such a huge mandate.

16.00 pm: The people of India have given huge mandate in 2019 Lok Sabha polls.