India - Japan ties hit a new high

Japanese emperor Akihito and empress Michiko arrived in New Delhi on a historic six-day visit which is sure to mark a new high in India-Japan relations. The royal couple were received by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Singh at the airport.

This is the first time that a Japanese emperor was visiting India. Emperor Akihito, 79, had visited India as a crown prince in 1960. He was received by the then President Rajendra Prasad.

This is only the 5th time that Singh has gone to the airport to receive a visiting foreign dignitary in his 10 years as the PM. He had previously personally received only President George Bush, his successor Barack Obama, Saudi king Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud and Nepal PM G P Koirala.

“I hope our visit will contribute to further enhancing the understanding and friendship between the two countries which marked the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations (last year)," Emperor Akihito said at Haneda airport before boarding his special flight.

“I still recall fondly how Their Excellencies President Rajendra Prasad, Vice-President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru welcomed us most graciously in Delhi (in 1960),” he said.

“These leaders had overcome various challenges in leading the country to independence and in the following years since independence”.