PM Modi accompanied Japanese PM Shinzo Abe to 16th century Sidi Saiyyed mosque

Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], September 13 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi accompanied his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe and wife Akie Abe to the famous 16th century Sidi Saiyyed mosque in Ahmedabad after their visit to the Sabarmati Ashram, where they paid their respects to Mahatma Gandhi.

Prime Minister Modi will host his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe and his wife Akie Abe to an exclusive dinner at the House of Mangaldas Girdhardas, a boutique heritage hotel in Ahmedabad, on Wednesday.

The mosque is a symbol of a time when Gujarat dwelled and prospered under Muslim rule. It was built in 1573, under the regime of the last Sultanate of Gujarat. The Sidi Saiyyed Mosque was built by in the retinue of sultan Ahemad ShahBilal Jhajar Khan, general in the army of the last Sultan Shams-ud-Din Muzaffar Shah III of the Gujarat Sultanate.The mosque is entirely curated and is famous for beautifully carved ten stone latticework windows (jalis) on the side and rear arches. The rear wall is filled with square stone pierced panels in geometrical designs.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife Akie Abe signed the visitor's book at Sabarmati Ashram, one of the residences of Mahatma Gandhi, after their roadshow from Ahmedabad Airport and shared a light moment with Prime MInister Narendra Modi by the riverside.

Earlier, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took part in an eight-kilometre-long road show with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a first -of its kind by a foreign leader from Ahmedabad Airport to Sabarmati Aashram located on the banks of the River Sabarmati.

Prime Minister Abe was dressed in a blue Indian-style Nehru jacket and his wife Akie Abe was attired in a beautiful pink salwar-kameez for the grand roadshow. Various cultural performances were held en-route to Sabarmati Aashram.

Earlier, Prime Minister Abe and his wife were received by Prime Minister Modi at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, Gujarat . The former was accorded a tri-services guard of honour and given a ceremonial reception on his arrival.

Prime Minister Abe is here to attend the annual India-Japan Summit to take bilateral and strategic ties between the two countries forward.

This is the 12th edition of the summit and the fourth meeting between Prime Minister Modi and and his Japanese counterpart. The summit will be held in Gandhinagar.

Both leaders are expected to review the recent progress in multifaceted co-operation between India and Japan under the framework of their 'Special Strategic and Global Partnership' and will set its future direction.

Both will also attend a function to mark the commencement of work of India's first high-speed rail project between Ahmedabad and Mumbai.

The train is expected to significantly reduce travel time between the two cities. Japan is a pioneer in high-speed rail networks, and its Shinkansen bullet train is among the fastest in the world.

An India-Japan Business Plenary will also be held.

Prime Minister Modi on Tuesday said in a tweet that India truly values its ties with Japan and looks forward to further boosting bilateral relations in a wide range of areas. (ANI)