President leaving for visit to Japan, Philippines tomorrow

Oct 16, 2019

New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind is embarking on a week-long visit to Philippines and Japan, the t tomorrow aimed at further boosting the strong ties with the two South-East Asian nations.

In addition to Japan and other states in the region, India is looking to enhance its defence cooperation with Philippnes, which is an important littoral country in the South-China Sea.

The President’s first halt will be Philippines to which he is paying a state visit at the invitation of the country’s President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. The visit is taking place on the occasion of 70 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

India has substantial trade and economic ties with Philippines, with many Indian companies being present in the field of agriculture, airport development, IT and textiles, Secretary East in the Ministry of External Affairs Vijay Thakur said answering a question at a media briefing on the President’s visit.

India has 2.3 billion dollar trade with Philippoines and its exports to the south-east asina nation were 1.7 billion dollar last year. Economic relations will be the major component of the President’s visit, Ms Thakur said, adding that he will be accompanied by a large business delegation, and will address business meets in Manila.

Besides, the two countries have strong defence and anti-terror cooperation, she said, adding that anti-drug cooperation was also an important part of it as narcotics were used to finance terror. A Defence industry and logistics agreement was inked between the two countries in 2017, under which India has been training military personnel of Philippines.

The President will hold restricted and delegation level talks with President Duterte in Manila and will also participate in business and community events. He will interact with Indian students, who are around 15000 in Philippines.

Mr Kovind will leave for Tokyo on 21rst October.During his visit to Japan, the President will attend various ceremonies related to Emperor Naruhito’s enthronement and also a banquet hosted by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Along with participating in a community event, the President will visit a Buddhist temple and plant a sapling from the sacred Bodhi Tree in Gaya to highlight India and Japan’s historical and cultural linkages based on Buddhism.

He will  travel 200 km by a superfast train to Japanese town of Kakinawa where a large number of Indian companies have their headquarter.

The President will also be visiting the ancient Shinto shrine, which has a yoga and meditation centre too.

”President’s visit to the two countries reaffirms India’s commitment to strengthen its bilateral ties based on traditional bonds of friendship and mutual understanding, the MEA said here earlier, while announcing the visit.

–India News Stream