Modi to begin Japan visit from Kyoto

New Delhi, Aug 28 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will fly to Kyoto Saturday at the start of his Aug 30-Sep 3 Japan visit, it was announced on Thursday.

 

This will be Modi’s first visit outside South Asia since he took office in May.

Modi will be received in Kyoto by his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, who will host him at dinner, external affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin told the media.

He said Kyoto had been added to the schedule as it "represents confluence of the civilizational heritage of India and Japan through Buddhism".

Modi is likely to meet the Japanese emperor, Akbaruddin said.