Upaksham Ramteke
Chief Executive Editor…
In the backdrop of the 25th anniversary of the destruction of the Gautam Buddha statue of Bamiyan in Afghanistan, Chief Minister Fadnavis proposed to the Governor to erect a replica of the statue in Nagpur.
Nagpur city is a historical place where Dr. Ambedkar converted to Buddhism and revived it. This initiative will send a message of peace to the world and create a symbol of India-Japan friendship, said Chief Minister Fadnavis.
The Chief Minister thanked the delegation from various fields for visiting Mumbai by saying ‘Arigato Gozaimas’ in Japanese. The Chief Minister thanked the delegation from various fields for visiting Mumbai by saying ‘Arigato Gozaimas’ in Japanese.
Miyazaki Izumi, Governor of Wakayama Prefecture of Japan, along with the Japanese delegation, met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at Hotel Taj Mahal.
Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Adv. Rahul Narvekar, Japanese Consul General in Mumbai Yagi Koji, Wakayama Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker Akizuki Fuminari and representatives from various sectors of Japan, including government, legislature, culture, sports, industry, etc. were present on the occasion.
Recalling his two visits to Japan, the Chief Minister said that the statue of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution, was unveiled at Koyasan University, a symbol of friendship between the two countries.
In 2023, a team of sumo wrestlers had come to Mumbai in the presence of the late Governor of Wakayama. A demonstration of sumo and Indian wrestling was presented at the Gateway of India area, which he recalled received a spontaneous response from the citizens.
Currently, Japanese sumo wrestlers are training at the Balewadi Sports Complex in Pune. This exchange in the field of sports will help both countries produce excellent athletes, said Chief Minister Fadnavis.
Remembering the late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Minister Fadnavis said that he strengthened friendship with India. Ambitious projects like the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train were started during his tenure. In Mumbai, a 40 km long underground metro and the country’s largest sea bridge of 22 km long were built, he also said.
Governor Miyazaki Izumi
Wakayama Governor Miyazaki Izumi expressed his intention to renew the agreement between Maharashtra and Wakayama in 2028 and increase cooperation in new areas. Saying that ‘Wakayama is the gateway to Maharashtra in Japan’, he said that the relations between Maharashtra and Wakayama will reach new heights.
Governor Miyazaki Izumi noted that since the 2013 agreement on tourism and food processing, there has been continuous cooperation between the two states in the fields of tourism, sports, cultural exchanges, conservation of world heritage sites, as well as trade and industry.
He expressed happiness by mentioning that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was conferred with an honorary doctorate by Koyasan University in December 2023.
He said that members of the Wakayama Provincial Legislative Assembly have formed a special group to enhance India-Japan friendship.
He expressed hope that the program organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FICCI) in Thane will give a boost to industry and economic cooperation.
He also responded positively to the proposal of the Chief Minister to erect a replica of the Bamiyan Buddha statue in Nagpur and expressed his readiness to discuss the issue further.
He invited Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to visit Japan again, especially the scenic spots of Koyasan and Wakayama, and expressed optimism about future cooperation.
