Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe in Yamanashi city on Sunday. The two leaders were expected to hold talks through the day on deepening bilateral ties. Modi is on a two-day visit to Japan to attend the 13th India-Japan annual summit. This is the 12th time Modi and Abe are meeting.

The two leaders spent eight hours together in Yamanashi, according to Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar. Abe hosted a luncheon for Modi at a scenic resort near Mount Fuji, after which they visited a robot factory, PTI reported. They then went to Abe’s vacation home in Yamanashi for dinner and then travelled to Tokyo, 110 km away, by train.

Strengthening bilateral security and economic cooperation was key on the agenda for the formal summit on Monday. They are also likely to discuss regional and global matters, reports had said earlier in the day.

Before leaving for the trip, Modi described India and Japan as a “winning combination”. Japan is India’s most trusted partner in its economic and technological modernisation, he said.

Ahead of the meeting, Abe said Modi was one of his most “dependable” friends, and that he would like to strengthen bilateral cooperation for a free and open Indo-Pacific region, PTI reported.

Modi will also address the Indian community in Tokyo and will address a business forum.