Modi in Japan Day 2 LIVE: PM urges Japan to increase engagement with India in speech

After an eventful first day visiting robot manufacturing plants and informal talks with Shinzo Abe at his holiday home. PM Narendra Modi started off the day addressing the Indian community in Japan. Post this speech, Modi will be at the India—Japan Annual Summit, where both countries are expected to strengthen their partnerships.

Modi spoke directly to the Indians in Japan in his speech, likening them to Diwali lamps spreading light, reports NDTV. He then went on to congratulate Indians who lived and worked in Japan for bringing what he called "brand India" to the far east. He mentioned how Indians have introduced Indian food and culture along with cricket to the land of the rising Sun. Japan, he said, is a nation that has partnered with India in numerous projects across sectors like infrastructure, automobile, and technology, he said.

Japan and India have, according to a report by NDTV, have agreed for 2+2 talks between nations.

The two countries have also signed a bilateral currency swap agreement worth about $75 billion. The agreement, said a statement released by the government of India is designed to bring better stability to both foreign exchange and capital markets in India.

PM Narendra Modi signs a Memorandum of Cooperation between Japan's Kanagawa prefecture and India's Ministry of Ayush. The two bodies will be carrying out research in the field of healthcare and wellness. The document was exchanged between PM Modi and governor Kuroiwa, reports the Ministry of external affairs.

A transcript of the PM's speech at the summit was also released by the MEA. 

At the ongoing summit in Tokyo, PM Modi spoke at seminars related to India-Japan Partnership in Africa and Digital Partnership, reports NDTV. Some of the key pointers from Modi at the seminar included his statement from a few years ago where he spoke of creating a "mini-Japan" inside India. "It's a matter of great happiness for me that today," he said, that, "you are working in an even larger number in India."

He then pointed out that when he took charge as PM, India was at 140 in the Ease of Doing Business ranking, over his tenure, the ranking has improved 40 places and is now 100th, he said.

 Speaking at the Business Leaders Forum, Modi said that inputs made at this meet could act as a catalyst in pushing India forward and achieving global benchmarking. To this end, he urged Japanese business leaders to increase their engagement with India.