Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday inaugurated the ‘Abe Memorial Corridor’ at the Rudraksh Convention Center in Varanasi, dedicating the space to the memory of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his enduring contribution to India-Japan ties.
Abe’s wife, Akie Abe, attended the ceremony, which highlighted the longstanding cultural and diplomatic links between the two countries.
The inauguration comes as India and Japan seek to deepen their partnership beyond traditional cultural exchanges, with Varanasi’s historic ties with Kyoto serving as an important symbol of the relationship.
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The corridor is intended to commemorate Abe’s special friendship with India and underscore the shared heritage of the two countries.
Before travelling to Varanasi, CM Yogi Adityanath posted on Instagram that India-Japan friendship was more than a diplomatic relationship, describing it as “a living bridge of trust, development, and the affinity of two ancient cultures”.
The CM credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shinzo Abe with taking bilateral relations to new heights. He said the partnership, once strongly associated with culture and faith, was now emerging as a significant force for economic cooperation and shared prosperity.
In his message, Yogi Adityanath linked the Kashi-Kyoto relationship with the broader future of India-Japan ties. He said, “from Kashi to Kyoto, from faith to economy, India-Japan friendship is creating new paths for shared prosperity”.
The Kashi-Kyoto connection is regarded as a distinctive example of the cultural affinity between India and Japan.
Both cities have centuries-old religious, historical and cultural traditions, and their partnership has sought to promote heritage conservation, cultural exchange and sustainable development.
He also pointed to the expanding economic dimension of the relationship in Uttar Pradesh. He said the state has signed Memoranda of Understanding with Japanese companies involving investments of around Rs 90,000 crore.
These investments are expected to contribute to industrial growth, employment generation and the state’s broader development objectives.
The inauguration of the corridor therefore places the cultural legacy of India-Japan ties alongside their growing economic partnership.
The CM described the relationship as a “bridge of heritage of trust and a partnership for development”, emphasising that cooperation between the two countries is steadily extending from faith and culture to investment and industry.
With the Abe Memorial Corridor now inaugurated, Varanasi is set to become an even more prominent symbol of the India-Japan relationship.
The Kashi-Kyoto model is expected to provide further scope for collaboration in heritage, culture, investment and development, reinforcing the partnership that was strengthened during Abe’s tenure.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
