eam-jaishankar-meets-japanese-ambassador-ono-keiichi

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held discussions with Japan’s Ambassador to India, Ono Keiichi, in New Delhi on Friday. The meeting centred on strengthening the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership.

 

Jaishankar took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his pleasure in meeting the ambassador, wishing him success in his new role. He shared a brief update, saying, “Pleased to meet Ambassador Ono Keiichi of Japan today in Delhi. Discussed the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership. Wish him best for this new assignment.”

 

Earlier in the day, Keiichi visited the Delhi Metro system, where he travelled between Central Secretariat and Chawri Bazar. The visit highlighted his interest in the operational aspects of the metro system, where he was guided by Vikas Kumar, the Managing Director of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

 

A statement from DMRC noted that during the visit, the ambassador expressed particular interest in various features, including the dedicated women’s coaches, CCTV surveillance, and driverless trains. Keiichi also inquired about ongoing works related to the Metro’s Phase-IV expansion.

 

The ambassador praised the Delhi Metro project, calling it a remarkable example of collaboration between India and Japan. He highlighted Japan's significant role in funding the project, including Phase-IV works. The visit culminated in a tour of the Patel Chowk Metro Museum.

 

The Delhi Metro project is widely regarded as a symbol of the strong partnership between the two nations, with substantial financial backing from Japan's international cooperation agency, which has supported the project since its inception.

 

On Thursday, Ambassador Keiichi also congratulated Indian chess prodigy D. Gukesh for winning the prestigious FIDE World Chess Championship. The recognition followed the ambassador’s earlier participation in the Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit, where he spoke about the role of Japanese companies in the development of Rajasthan.

 

Keiichi expressed his appreciation for the support provided by the Rajasthan government to Japanese businesses and discussed the potential for future collaboration.

 

During the summit, Keiichi also met with Rajasthan's Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, further reinforcing the growing ties between Japan and India, particularly in the realm of economic and infrastructural development.