JNU confers honorary doctorate on Japanese PM Shinzo Abe

New Delhi, Dec 11: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was today conferred with an honorary doctorate in International Relations by Jawaharlal Nehru University here for Japan's role in India's economic development.

The Japanese prime minister is on a three-day visit to India during which he will hold annual summit talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. Upon receiving the doctorate degree, which was conferred on him by JNU Vice Chancellor Sudhir Kumar Sopory, Abe expressed hope that his meeting tomorrow with Modi will further elevate Indo-Japan ties.

"Japan and India share basic values that is why ensuring all sort of coordination between the two nations in every field will be critically important for Asia and the world in this century. "From such perspective, I would like to take opportunity of tomorrow's summit meeting with Prime Minister Modi will elevate our bilateral relationship to a higher ground," Abe said.

Asserting his conviction in the ties of the two countries, Abe offered Japan's support for development of India and JNU. "I would like to reiterate my conviction which I repeatedly express that Japan and India's relation has the greatest potential in any bilateral relationship in the world," Abe said.

"Japan will continuously offer cooperation for the development of India with the government and private sector working together. With regard to Japanese studies in JNU, taking into account its potential, Japan would like to offer its cooperation as to make Japanese education and Japan studies more robust," he added.

Speaking on the occasion, JNU VC Sopory said the Japanese leader was a natural choice for the varsity's honour owing to his international appeal. "Prime Minister Shinzo Abe becomes a natural choice for JNU to confer the title of doctor of philosophy in International Relations. He is a distinguished international leader for his role of networking with individual leaders, countries and multilateral institutions," VC said.

JNU has Japanese Studies Programme at research, postgraduate and undergraduate level in the School of International Studies and School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies.

"These programmes are playing very important role in imparting teaching and research and make strong impact on qualitatively improving Indian, Asian and global understanding of contemporary Japan and its foreign relations," he said.

PTI