Gujarat will roll out the red carpet for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who arrives in Ahmedabad on Wednesday on a two-day visit during which he will lay the foundation stone for India's first bullet train project.

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The two leaders will hold the 12th India-Japan annual summit in Gujarat during the visit.

Japan prime minister Shinzo Abe will be on a two-day visit to India beginning Wednesday during which the two countries are expected to scale up their strategic cooperation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that India truly values its relationship with Japan and he looks forward to welcoming Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe and hosting him in Gujarat for the fourth annual summit.

During his visit, Abe will attend the ground breaking ceremony of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed railway, a flagship programme of the India-Japan collaboration, marking the commencement of the project, also known as bullet train project.

In a statement on Monday, the MEA said, "The two leaders will review the recent progress in the multifaceted cooperation between India and Japan under the framework of their special strategic and global partnership and will set its future direction."

The summit takes place amid rising tension in the Far East after North Korea tested a hydrogen bomb, launched a ballistic missile over Japan, and the growing Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea.

As Vaghani pointed, this will indeed be a rare occasion when the head of a State would skip New Delhi during their bilateral visit to India. This fact itself shows how important the Abe's visit will be for BJP as far as the upcoming Gujarat election is concerned.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Abe will take part in a road show in Ahmedabad on Wednesday. "This is for the first time in the country when our prime minister along with the prime minister of another country is doing a joint road show. The Japanese prime minister is landing here directly on 13 September. This makes the occasion more important, as he is visiting a state on the very first day of his India visit," Gujarat BJP unit president Jitubhai Vaghani had told reporters.

Nearly 30 years later, India took another step towards high-speed railway, when Gatiman Express from Delhi to Agra was flagged off. Running at 160 kilometers per hour, it is currently India's fastest train.

This isn't India's first attempt to ride on high speed trains. In 1989, the then railway minister Madhavrao Scindia proposed a high-speed connection from Delhi to Kanpur via Agra. The project was dropped later.

According to The Times of India, Buddhist monks will receive the Japanese prime minister on his arrival in Ahmedabad.

Robust security arrangements have been put in place for the 12th Indo-Japan Summit and business meet where Japanese companies are likely to announce major investments in Gujarat.

Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, which will host a slew of programmes during the high-profile visit, are all decked up to welcome the foreign dignitary with streets shimmering in fluorescent lights, and hoardings and banners welcoming Abe dotting them.

Modi has already had 10 meetings with Abe during the last three years and the bilateral India-Japan Annual Summit they are holding on Thursday in Gujarat capital Gandhinagar will be the fourth one between them.

There is nothing new in Narendra Modi's two-day sojourn to his home state Gujarat with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe and his wife Akie Abe beginning Wednesday afternoon.

To bring the situation under control, police used lathi-charge and also detained around 10 persons, said a control room official.

"Some persons created ruckus at the venue and also threw stones at police. They even torched two buses at Hirabaug circle. Luckily, no one was injured. The situation is now under control in Kapodra area as well as rest of the city," he said.

The protesters pelted stones at the police, said Surat Police Commissioner Satish Sharma.

The incident took place after the city police detained some people, allegedly associated with the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), the Patel quota agitation body led by Hardik Patel, as they tried to stage protest at Saurashtra Bhavan against BJP leader Rutvij Patel's programme.

Two civic transport buses were set on fire by unidentified protesters in the Patidar-dominated Kapodra area of Surat on Tuesday evening, according to PTI .

Two buses set on fire on the eve of Shinzo Abe's visit

PM Narendra Modi, Japan's Shinzo Abe and his wife Akie will have dinner tonight at Ahmedabad's famous Agashiye terrace restaurant. The Japanese PM will not only be given an overview of the heritage of the city in the Indian prime minister's home state, he will also get a taste of famously sweet-and-savoury Gujarati cuisine. While the entire menu is under wraps, Abe will reportedly be served traditionally vegetarian GUjarati meal, along with PM Modi's favourite "Handvo" or vegetable cake.

However, even as the monsoon season in the state ebbs away, we are sure the meticulous planning underway since week, must have taken into account an event of rain.

The skies are overcast in Ahmedabad, even as a massive road show is set to begin within moments. The Prime Minister has reached the Ahmedabad airport to recieve Japan's head of State Shinzo Abe and his wife and a roadshow till the Sabarmati Ashram is set to begin soon after.

Locals gather up on the route of Modi-Abe road show

In Pictures: PM Modi, with his VVIP convoy, is all set to recieve Shinzo Abe

The procedure laid down for the heads of governments visits is that a minsiter of Cabinet rank usually greets the dignitary at the airport.

The last time Narendra Modi broke protocol to recieve a foreign dignitary, it was for his 'friend' Barack's India visit. The Indian prime minister broke protocol to receive the then US president, Barack Obama. This time around, he is again set to receive Japan's PM Shinzo Abe.

This aircraft usually has the capability of landing on choppy waters with waves of up to three metres, apart from having long-range civilian and military applications.

Japan is pushing for over-the-counter sale of the US-2 aircraft produced by ShinMaywa Industries Ltd, which has a range of about 4,500 km and is suitable for search-and-rescue operations. The US-2 is also capable of carrying sensitive communications equipment.

According to News 18 , India is all set to buy the US 2i amphibious aircraft ShinMayWa from Japan in a record deal of 1.3 billion dollars, ironing out the differences over price, the two nations had.

India rolls out the red carpet for Shinzo Abe: PM breaks protocol to receive Japan's PM, ceremonial welcome underway

Traditional Gujarati dance played out at Ahmedabad airport to welcome Shinzo Abe

The Japanese PM was received with ceremonial welcome at the Ahmedabad airport. He will now embark on an 8-kilometre-long road show that will end at the Sabarmati Aashram.

Meanwhile... Japanese PM's official YouTube Channel puts out a video 'High-Speed bullet train coming to India'

Top Chef from Taj Hotel, Delhi flown in to prepare ceremonial dinner for Shinzo Abe

In Pictures: Shinzo Abe accorded a tri-service guard of honour at his arrival

The mosque is evidence of historical fruition of Gujarat's multiculturalism, a testimony to Hindu and Muslim cultures coming together in the past.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to accompany his Japanese counterpart, Shinzo Abe, to the 16th century Sidi Saiyyed mosque in Ahmedabad marks an important turn in his political evolution. Famed globally for its exquisite stone lattice work or jalis, the mosque is not just an architectural marvel, but also the symbolic icon of Ahmedabad city.

Modi accompanying Shinzo Abe to Sidi Saiyyed mosque is an exercise in image makeover for PM

Dressed in a crimson Kurta, Akie Abe was on the side of Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, who himself had donned a blue Nehru Jacket and white Kurta Pajama. The duo visited the Sabarmati Ashram and spent a few minutes at the Sabarmati waterfront.

The Japanese PM, his wife Akie Abe and PM Modi paid there respects to Mahatma Gandhi's statue at Sabarmati Ashram. The place has drawn many high-profile visitors and heads of states in the past too as it is the spot from where Gandhi led the Dandi march, in 1930.

Akie Abe will visit Ahmedabad Management Association, Blind's People Association, and the Gujarat University, apart from visiting Calico Museum and Sabarmati riverfront on September 14 as part of her visit to the state.

Ahmedabad district collector Avantika Singh said the Japanese first lady will visit various institutions where she will interact with people, and deliver a lecture on climate change at the Gujarat University.

Japanese First Lady Akie Abe is scheduled to attend a number of programmes in Ahmedabad on Thursday during the two-day India visit of her husband and

From climate talk to NGO visit, Japanese first lady has a packed schedule tomorrow

Prime Ministers of India and Japan, Narendra Modi and Shinzo Abe, and the latter's wife Akie Abe, have reached the 'Sidi Saiyyid Ni Jaali', a famous 16th century mosque in Ahmedabad.

Boosting cooperation in defence and security is likely to be a major focus area when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe hold the annual summit talks in Gandhinagar in Gujarat on Thursday.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will have dinner at Ahmedabad's famous Agashiye restaurant on Wednesday, will be given a taste of traditional vegetarian Gujarati cuisine, including handvo and khichdi kadhi, reports India TV .

There is, however, a possibility of negotiations to have Japanese credit-line in future for procuring these high-end equipment, he said. Non-energy areas include nuclear medicine, irradiation, research and development in atomic sector.

India and Japan may enhance their cooperation in non-energy areas of the nuclear sector, a senior government official said, ahead of the delegation level talks between the prime ministers of the two countries on Thursday. The official, however, said there are little chances of an agreement to procure equipment from Japan for building nuclear power plants in the country, as talks with French company EDF and American nuclear giant Westinghouse Electric Company are ongoing in this regard.

RECAP: Narendra Modi with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe and his wife Akei Abe at Sabarmati and 'Sidi Saiyyid Ni Jaali

The two leaders will also hold the 12th Indo-Japan annual Summit meeting at Gandhinagar after which agreements will be exchanged.

The Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project is expected to be completed by 2022 and is likely to traverse the distance of over 500 km between the two cities in around two hours. Japan has extended a soft loan for the ambitious project conceptualised by Modi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe will lay the foundation stone for India’s first bullet train project today.

Agenda for the day for Modi and Abe

The bullet train will connect Mumbai and Ahmedabad and will be linked by a total of 12 stations. The train will stop at Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad, and Sabarmati stations. The Mumbai station will be underground while all others will be elevated.

Bullet train will be linked by 12 stations between Mumbai and Ahmedabad

The government has promised that the first ‘Bullet train’ will run in less than five years. The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) project received cabinet approval in 2015 and within two years, construction has already begun.

Bullet Train will be ready in less than 5 years

Goyal said the bullet train will make its first trip from Mumbai to Ahmedabad on 15 August, 2022 – when India completes 75 years of independence.

The government earlier had set a deadline of December 2023. However, newly appointed Union Minister for Railways Piyush Goyal on Monday announced that the government had advanced the date of completion by more than a year.

"After the Second World War, Japan resembled a burning field," Abe said, adding that the country had seen a lot of development after that and had eventually installed a bullet train.

"Today, we can see a glance of the bright future for India and Japan," the Japanese prime minister further said.

"Exactly 10 years back, I had the good fortune of speaking in the Indian parliament...A powerful India is beneficial for Japan and a powerful Japan is beneficial for India," said Abe.

A powerful India is beneficial for Japan and a powerful Japan is beneficial for India: Shinzo Abe

"India can become the factory of the world if India and Japan combine their efforts," he said.

"Japanese engineers are working day and night to ensure the success of this project. If Indian and Japanese people combine their efforts, there is nothing which cannot be achieved," the Japanese prime minister also said.

"My dear friend Narendra Modi is a global and far-sighted leader," Abe said.

If we combine 'Ja' from 'Japan' and 'I' from India, the word we get is 'JAI': Abe

"This is a historic and emotional day for India-Japan ties," he said.

"The bullet train project is one which bring about great speed, great development and great technology. This project will bring about employment and speed. It is human-friendly and eco-friendly," Modi said.

"Today, India has taken a crucial step in fulfiling an age-old dream," he said.

"It is the collection of dreams which enables a country to move forward," said Narendra Modi.

"Right now, Shinzo Abe was telling us the kind of difficulties Japan had to face after the Second World War. But after 1964, with the establishment of the bullet train, the country saw fast development," he said.

"People get the benefits of connectivity through various ways," said the prime minister, adding that everyone knows about how there was fast growth in America after railways were established there.

"Next-generation growth will take place only where there are high-speed corridors," Modi said. "An efficient transport system plays a crucial role in the development of a country," he said.

"If the inauguration for this project is taking place so fast, the credit goes to Shinzo Abe," said Narendra Modi. "He took a personal interest to see that this project goes smoothly without any difficulties," Modi added.

Next-generation growth will take place only where there are high-speed corridors: Modi

She will also address students at Gujarat University, where she will speak on climate change, and visit the Vocational Training Unit at Blind People's Association. On her visit to the Japan Information Centre, Akie will inaugurate the Origami Mahotsav and will be served a bullet train ice cream cake.

The First Lady of Japan will begin her day by visiting the garden at Sabarmati riverfront. Later, she will be greeted by 18 children singing 'Kem chho, konnichiwa', on her visit to the Indo-Japan Friendship Association (IJFA). The song, penned by IJFA's Mukesh Patel, will be sung by students of Zydus School of Excellence.

These rapid variables have forced India and Japan to snuggle closer, and both nations appear on the cusp of a major upgradation in bilateral ties.

Abe's visit to India for the 12th Indo-Japan Annual Summit comes at a particularly interesting time. Both nations are grappling with the trajectory of China's rise and struggling to keep pace with a geopolitical order thrown into turmoil over doubts about America's role as a global security guarantor. And as if the world needed a dash of more uncertainty, the tinpot from North Korea has decided that this is the right time to test a hydrogen bomb and threaten Donald Trump.

And when he comes calling with a highly ambitious project like the bullet train that promises to collapse the geographical distances between two cousins, Ahmedabad and Mumbai, split only by political boundaries in the sixties, it only adds to the euphoria. And that too, Gujarat goes to a crucial election in December with the BJP increasingly missing the Modi Magic.

For the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in Gujarat, the very presence of Narendra Modi — be it as the chief minister or the prime minister — electrifies party cadres.

"India, Japan and US conducted joint maritime exercise in Malabar for the first time, based on strong ties of trust between Modi and US president Donald Trump. It will further deepen cooperation between India, Japan & the US," Abe said.

Abe speaks on ties between India, Japan and US

He also thanked India for a warm welcome. "I'd like to take this opportunity to thank India and the people of India," he said.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that with the signing of MoU on Japanese language, he hopes that the language will find a way among the common people in India.

- Between RIS and IDE-JETRO for promotion of Cooperation in Research Related Activities

- Letter of intent between Sports Authority of India and University of Tsukuba, Japan

- Letter of intent between Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education (LNIPE) and University of Tsukuba, Japan

- International Academic and Sports Exchange between Sports Authority of India and Nippon Sports Science University, Japan (NSSU)

- Joint Research Contract between National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology (AIST), Japan and Department of Biotechnology (DBT)

- Agreement for International joint exchange programme between interdisciplinary theoretical and mathematical sciences programme (iTHEMS), RIKEN and National Centres for Biological Sciences (Simons-NCBS)

- MOC between METI and the State of Gujarat on ‘Japan-India special programme for Make In India’ in Mandal Bechraj-Khoraj in Gujarat

- Arrangement between India Post and Japan Post on Administrative Instruction for the Implementation of Cool EMS service

In a series of tweets, Union minister Smriti Irani praised the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project, saying that it symbolised growth in the country.

Gujaratis are known to lap it up with great awe when a foreign dignitary calls Narendra Modi a friend. In this case, Abe started his speech with 'Namaskar' and went on to say that he "loved Gujarat" and he would wish to "come here again with Narendra Modi in the bullet train, chatting and looking at the beautiful countryside from the window." He not only called Japan an old friend of India, remembering how he addressed the Indian Parliament ten years ago, but Modi a "dear friend and a world leader."

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis seemed so excited that he wanted Modi to inaugurate the train in Mumbai, even though he noted that the ground breaking was taking place in Gujarat.

The fact that the bullet train will be completed only by 2022-23 was lost on most of those present at Thursday's event.

He added that Rs 60,000 crore was being spent on land acquisition, and the cost of the project which has been pitched at Rs 1,10,000 crore may further escalate during implementation.

"The air fare between Mumbai and Ahmedabad is Rs 2,000, and the bullet train fare would be between Rs 2,800 to Rs 5,000... Only if one lakh passengers travel in the train the project will be economically viable," said Kharge.

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said in Lok Sabha that his party was not against any development project, but added that the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project was not economically viable. "We are not against any project, but what is the aim? This project is not economically viable," Kharge said.

Some initial reports have identified 163 villages in eight districts of Gujarat, 44 villages in three districts of Maharashtra and some areas in Dadra and Nagar Haveli for land acquisition. About 2,761 families will be affected.

Rail authorities are also facing a tough time convincing villagers near Virar to give away their land for the project. The rail officials were abused by villagers when they went to discuss the matter.

Even as the nation is cheering and rejoicing over India's first high speed rail project, the enthusiasm will soon be sullied because the railway authorities are yet to acquire the required private land. Of this entire stretch, 92 percent will be elevated and six percent will be tunneled, The Asian Agereported. The remaining two percent, about 825 hectares of land, may become a major hurdle for completing the bullet train project by 2022.

Despite euphoria, bullet train project still has land acquisition hurdles to cross

During the talks between the two leaders, India and Japan inked 15 pacts to give a boost to cooperation in various key sectors, including civil aviation, trade and science and technology.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe held wide-ranging talks on key bilateral, regional and international issues and discussed ways to deepen ties in trade, security and civil nuclear energy.

While the cheer and aplomb around bullet train is dominating headlines, India and Japan are quietly strengthening defence cooperation. Speaking to the press, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said, "Till now the thrust of the contacts and cooperation have been on maritime security only. We agreed to explore cooperation and exchanges between our Armies/ Ground Self defence force and Air Force and Japan's Air Defence."

“Ek prakar se muft mein (In a way it is free),” Modi said reminding that the project was made possible thanks to the Japanese loan of Rs 88,000 crore at an attractive 0.1 per cent interest to be repaid over 50 years, The Indian Express reported.

In an apparent move to silence the critics of the muti-million ambitious bullet train project, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today reasserted that India's gains from the project are much more than it's cost.

'In a way it's free,' PM Modi on cost of bullet train

The first pact was signed for an international joint exchange programme between Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences (iTHEMS) at Japanese research institute RIKEN and the National Centre for Biological Sciences (Simons-NCBS), Bengaluru. The other two MoUs were inked between the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology (AIST), Japan - PTI

India and Japan on Thursday signed an agreement under which their airlines can operate an unlimited number of flights between the two countries. Japanese carriers All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines, and Indian carriers Air India and Jet Airways are the airlines that fly between the two countries.

'Rudraksh' Varanasi Convention Centre, to be a cultural garland that Japan has accorded India: PM Modi

It said China would never follow India and Japan "who have somewhat lost themselves".

An op-ed in the Global Times said "the India-Japan intimacy is more like a contrivance" and both were "are unlikely to challenge China without giving it a serious thought".

China has always been wary of growing proximity between India and Japan with whom it has territorial disputes. The state-run Chinese media has often been critical of fast developing ties between India and Japan.

When I first visited Japan as CM of Gujarat, I had said that I want to see a mini Japan in Gujarat. Today that dream has come true: PM Modi

“Ek prakar se muft mein (In a way it is free),” Modi said reminding that the project was made possible thanks to the Japanese loan of Rs 88,000 crore at an attractive 0.1 per cent interest to be repaid over 50 years, The Indian Express reported.

In an apparent move to silence the critics of the muti-million ambitious bullet train project, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today reasserted that India's gains from the project are much more than it's cost.

'In a way it's free,' PM Modi on cost of bullet train

The first pact was signed for an international joint exchange programme between Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences (iTHEMS) at Japanese research institute RIKEN and the National Centre for Biological Sciences (Simons-NCBS), Bengaluru. The other two MoUs were inked between the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology (AIST), Japan - PTI

One of the motives of this proposed security diamond is to curb China's increasingly expansionist attitude in the South China Sea region -- something that directly affects Japan. Even if this eventually turns out to be a case of mere saber-rattling, Beijing appears to have already received the message.

"I envisage a strategy whereby Australia, India, Japan, and the US state of Hawaii form a diamond to safeguard the maritime commons stretching from the Indian Ocean region to the western Pacific. I am prepared to invest, to the greatest possible extent, Japan’s capabilities in this security diamond," Abe had stated.

On the second day of Shinzo Abe's two-day visit, a familiar theme returned to the agenda: Asia’s Democratic Security Diamond as coined by the Japanese prime minister back in 2012.

India and Japan on Thursday signed an agreement under which their airlines can operate an unlimited number of flights between the two countries. Japanese carriers All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines, and Indian carriers Air India and Jet Airways are the airlines that fly between the two countries.

'Rudraksh' Varanasi Convention Centre, to be a cultural garland that Japan has accorded India: PM Modi

Japan can benefit tremendously with size & scale of our potential&skilled hands that India offers: PM Modi on India-Japan business relations pic.twitter.com/EAfFVJeFed

It said China would never follow India and Japan "who have somewhat lost themselves".

An op-ed in the Global Times said "the India-Japan intimacy is more like a contrivance" and both were "are unlikely to challenge China without giving it a serious thought".

China has always been wary of growing proximity between India and Japan with whom it has territorial disputes. The state-run Chinese media has often been critical of fast developing ties between India and Japan.

When I first visited Japan as CM of Gujarat, I had said that I want to see a mini Japan in Gujarat. Today that dream has come true: PM Modi

Gujarat’s Industry and Government still cherish the fact that Japan became the first partner country in Vibrant Gujarat event: PM Modi

Gujarat cherishes Japan's friendship for being the first partner in Vibrant Gujarat

Gujarat will roll out the red carpet for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who will arrive in Ahmedabad on Wednesday on a two-day visit during which he will lay the foundation stone for India's first bullet train project.

The twin cities of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, which will host a slew of programmes during the high-profile visit, are all decked up to welcome the foreign dignitary with streets shimmering in fluorescent lights, and hoardings and banners welcoming Abe dotting them.

Robust security arrangements have been put in place for the 12th Indo-Japan Summit and business meet where Japanese companies are likely to announce major investments in Gujarat.

The visit will begin on Wednesday afternoon with an 8 km road show where Abe will be accorded a grand welcome, officials said.

Modi will be present through the road show with Abe with people lining the streets their cavalcade would pass through.

They will visit Sabarmati Ashram and iconic Sidi Saiyyed Mosque in the eastern part of the city famous for its intricate stone lattice work on Wednesday.

Modi will host dinner for Abe at a hotel in the old city area.

Ahmedabad has been recently included in the World Heritage City list. The Japanese prime minister will be given an overview of the heritage of the city in Modi's home state.

On Thursday, Abe and Modi will lay the foundation stone for the high-speed train project between Ahmedabad and Mumbai which is expected to be completed by 2022, and is likely to traverse the distance of over 500 km between in around two hours.

Japan has extended a soft loan for the ambitious project conceptualised by Modi.

The two leaders will hold the 12th Indo-Japan annual Summit meeting at Gandhinagar after which agreements will be exchanged. Later, an India-Japan business plenary meeting will be held.

"We are thankful to the Japanese prime minister for selecting Gujarat for his visit to India," Gujarat chief secretary JN Singh said.

Fifteen agreements will be signed for investments in Gujarat during the visit of the Japanese prime minister, he said.

Abe's spouse Akie Abe will accompany him and also have a busy schedule. She will be visiting a number of places

including an NGO — Blind People's Association.

With inputs from PTI