Bear hugs, road show and smiles as PM welcomes Shinzo Abe

Last updated on: September 13, 2017 18:29 IST

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has touched down in Ahmedabad for his two-day visit during which he will be laying the foundation stone for India's first bullet train -- to run between Ahmedabad and Mumbai -- and to attend the 12th Indo-Japan Summit.

Here are the best moments from Abe's visit on Day 1.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke protocol on Wednesday and welcomed his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe and his wife Akie Abe. Modi accorded Shinzo Abe with a warm hug to convey the close relations the two countries share.
Photograph: @MEAIndia/Twitter

The two leaders got into an open-top Gypsy decorated with flowers for the 8-km roadshow. Along the route, 28 huge stages were built on which schoolchildren held performances highlighting India's varied culture.
Photograph: @MEAIndia/Twitter

After the road show, Modi with Abes visited the Sabaramati Ashram, where Mahatma Gandhi lived between 1917 and 1930.
Photograph: @MEAIndia/Twitter

PM Modi presented marble sculpture of Mahatma Gandhiji's famous three monkeys to the Japanese PM
Photograph: @MEAIndia/Twitter

Special scribe by honoured guest. PM Abe signs visitors book at Sabarmati Ashram 

Photograph: @MEAIndia/Twitter

Women walk past a billboard featuring Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe ahead of Abe’s visit in Ahmedabad.
Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters