Puri (Odisha), March 6 — The Consulate General of Japan in Kolkata organised “An Evening in Japan” in Puri in partnership with the India-Japan Friendship Centre and the Hotel Association, Puri. The event, held Thursday, aimed to boost Japanese tourism and strengthen cultural ties between India and Japan.
Deputy Consul General Ashida Katsunori, speaking at the gathering, said his visit deepened his understanding of Puri and highlighted education as a cornerstone of Japan’s development. He also gave a presentation promoting Japan as a major travel destination.
Kunna Dash, president of the India-Japan Friendship Centre, noted that Puri is already drawing Japanese visitors. A native of Puri who lived in Japan for 35 years, Dash said the consulate sought to encourage cultural exchange and that Puri’s beaches are especially attractive to Japanese tourists. He added that further development of local facilities could help increase tourism from Japan.
Earlier the same day, a delegation of Indian MPs led by Congress leader Manish Tewari held a courtesy meeting with State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Kuunimitsu Ayano, according to a press release from Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ayano described Japan and India as “Special Strategic Global Partners” sharing fundamental values and expressed a desire to steadily deepen cooperation in areas such as the economy, investment, and innovation, building on the Japan‑India Joint Vision for the Next Decade announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Japan last August. The Indian delegation said it hoped to help further bilateral ties.
In related developments, the 7th Joint Committee Meeting under the India‑Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) took place on March 2 in Tokyo. The meeting was co‑chaired by Rajesh Agrawal, Secretary, Department of Commerce, Government of India, and the Senior Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Japan.
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