Japanese PM given ceremonial welcome

Ahead of addressing the joint session of parliament, Shinzo Abe is given a ceremonial welcome on the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Ahead of addressing the joint session of parliament, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was on Wednesday given a ceremonial welcome on the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan.

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President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were among those who formally welcomed Abe, who is on a three-day visit to India.

Abe later left for Rajghat to lay wreath and pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi at his memorial.

The Japanese prime minister arrived on Tuesday along with his wife Akie and a 243-strong business delegation representing top corporate houses of his country. He is scheduled to visit Kolkata on Thursday.