Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday said India and Japan's bilateral relations are the most important in the world. Speaking at the inaugural function of the India-Japan Friendship Year 2007 and the India-Japan Tourism Exchange Year 2007, Abe said: "I renew my determination that we have to nurture and develop the relationship between our two countries are the most important bilateral relationship in the world." He also praised India as "the oldest democracy in Asia and one of the most rapidly developing economies in Asia."
Prime Ministers Abe and Singh are expected to announce initiatives to enhance people-to-people exchange between the two countries, including a three-fold increase in the number of direct flights between New Delhi and Tokyo, educational initiatives and relaxation of visa norms.
