PM Modi Hails Abe Memorial Corridor As Tribute To Shinzo Abe’s India Japan Friendship Legacy
The corridor honours Abe’s role in strengthening India Japan ties.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the Shinzo Abe Memorial Corridor in Varanasi as a fitting tribute to the late Japanese Prime Minister's contribution to strengthening India-Japan friendship. Modi made the remarks after meeting Akie Abe, widow of Shinzo Abe, in New Delhi on Thursday, a day after she jointly inaugurated the memorial corridor with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Varanasi.
The memorial corridor has been established at the Rudraksh International Convention Centre, which was built with Japanese assistance and inaugurated by Modi in 2021. The facility has become a symbol of cooperation between the two countries, while the new corridor features photographs and material recalling Abe's association with India and his close relationship with Modi.
Akie Abe became emotional during the inauguration and expressed gratitude to Modi, Adityanath and the people of India for dedicating the corridor to her late husband. She recalled Shinzo Abe's 2015 visit to Varanasi with Modi, when the two leaders attended the Ganga Aarti. She also spoke about the cultural similarities between Varanasi and Kyoto, two cities with longstanding traditions and heritage.
Also Read: India And Myanmar Review Defence Initiatives With Focus On Training And Security
Adityanath described the corridor as a symbol of the enduring relationship between India and Japan and highlighted Abe's role in deepening bilateral ties. He said the memorial could serve as a place where younger generations learn about the contribution of both leaders to the relationship between the two countries. He also noted that India and Japan will mark 75 years of diplomatic relations in 2027.
The India-Japan partnership has expanded beyond political and cultural exchanges into areas including infrastructure, technology, investment and emerging sectors. Adityanath said around 1,400 Japanese companies currently operate in India and pointed to cooperation involving areas such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, green hydrogen and critical minerals. The Rudraksh Convention Centre itself stands as an example of Japanese support for projects in India.
Shinzo Abe, who served multiple terms as Japan's prime minister, was a prominent figure in the development of closer India-Japan relations and was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 2021. His 2015 visit to Varanasi became one of the notable moments associated with his relationship with Modi. The memorial corridor now commemorates that association while highlighting the broader diplomatic and cultural ties between India and Japan.
Also Read: India Ghana Partnership Expands With Focus On Health, Mining And Defence
