The special gesture Japanese PM Shinzo Abe made a special gesture as he flew from Tokyo to Kyoto to receive Modi. Later, he hosted a grand dinner for the visiting dignitary Varanasi will be developed into a 'smart city' with cooperation of Kyoto —the Japanese 'smart city' Abe said an economically resurgent India would of great strategic importance to the region and the world. Modi described Japan as one of India's closest and most important partners

Kyoto, August 30
Setting the tone for their formal Summit on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe on Saturday spoke about a "strong and robust future" for the bilateral ties, with the Indian leader hoping that the two sides would strive to achieve in five years the unrealised potential of five decades.

The two sides also inked a pact to develop Modi’s constituency Varanasi into a 'smart city' with cooperation and experience of Kyoto —the Japanese 'smart city' which is a confluence of heritage and modernity. Abe made a special gesture as he flew from Tokyo to receive his Indian counterpart at Kyoto. Later meeting over dinner, the two leaders talked about the need to seize the opportunities presented by their respective strong political mandates to inject new momentum and energy in their economies.

"They spoke with great optimism about a strong and robust future for India-Japan economic partnership," a PMO statement said.

Modi observed that the relationship was far below potential and expressed hope that the two sides would strive to achieve in five years the unrealised potential of five decades. Abe expressed confidence that under Modi, India's economic transformation would gather strong momentum.

To intensify defence cooperation, the two sides are also likely to launch a security consultative framework involving their foreign and defence ministers.

The two countries are also expected to sign an agreement in the field of rare earth materials after Modi and Abe hold a summit meeting in Tokyo on Monday.