Pitching for enhanced India-Japan ties in the Northeast, Japanese ambassador to India, Kenji Hiramatsu today said time was ripe to significantly expand the cooperation between the two countries in the region, backed by convergence of strategies.
The ambassador was addressing a gathering at a workshop here, where he also recalled the Battles of Kohima and Imphal fought during the World War II to underline the shared history of the region.
"I myself have visited Manipur twice and Nagaland once to pay tribute to the war victims. I felt people's strong wish to enhance cooperation with Japan, not only economically but also culturally and via people-to-peole contacts based on our historical connection and ethnic similarity," he said.
"And, today, more than 70 years thereafter (1940s), time is ripe to significantly expand Japan-India cooperation in the Northeast, backed by the ever closer relationship between the two countries and the convergence of our strategies," Hiramatsu said.
India's Act East Policy and Japan's Free and Open Indo Pacific Strategy converge in Northeast, the envoy said.
The workshop on India-Japan Partnership for Economic Development in Northeast was also attended by Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, who assured that his government would extend all cooperation for joint projects in the state.
Singh said 2019 would mark 75th year of the Battle of Imphal (1944) and his government planned to host a summit in collaboration with Japan to mark the occasion.
"We have also drawn up a WW II homage circuit that would enhance tourism in the state. We invite all countrymen of Japan to visit the state where some of their ancestors died during the war," he said.
The chief minister also spoke about the war museum being built in the state.
"Our landlocked state is blessed with scenic beauty. Modern game of polo also originated from our state. We are working on a statue of polo of about 140-ft height, which can be seen even from aerial flights," he added.
Singh invited Japan to invest in the country, and assured that all projects would be dealt through a "single-window" clearance through his office.
The Japanese ambassador also announced that his country would sign a grant agreement for a project for construction of a secondary school for Scheduled Tribes in Manipur, the day after tomorrow.
"I am pleased and excited to join hands with the chief minister to further strengthen the ties between Japan and Manipur," he said.
The envoy added that there was a "growing momentum" to boost Japan-India cooperation in the Northeast region.
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