India, Japan civilisational neighbours: Ansari

New Delhi, Aug 22 (UNI) Rajya Sabha Chairman Mohammad Hamid Ansari today said Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's address to a joint sitting of Parliament was an affirmation that the bilateral relationship ''goes beyond our governments''.

In fact, the ties encompassed a broad range including the legislature, civil society and the people of the two countries, Mr Ansari said in his welcome address.

The visit of Mr Abe's grand father to India as Prime Minister five decades ago was a landmark in the bilateral relations, he said.

Mr Abe's visit now had come at an important jucture in the context of national histories and the regional and international situation.

In his vote of thanks, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee acknowledged that the two nations were deeply committed to democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

''We believe that the 21st Century will be an Asian Century and as is widely acknowledged, India and Japan will be the key performers in actualising that ideal,'' the Speaker said.

UNI