Tribute to Shinzo Abe: His Legacy and the Future of Indo-Pacific
Excellencies and friends at Ananta Aspen Centre, good afternoon. Thank you for holding this memorial service for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, whose life was cut short by a gunman’s handmade bullet. Mrs. Abe will certainly be touched by your thoughtful gesture.
The Former Prime Minister was a great statesman representing Japan and highly esteemed around the world. He is a great loss to all as seen by messages of condolence that arrived from leaders of more than 250 countries, regions, and international organizations.
Mr. Abe pursued proactive diplomacy. As an example, he launched his long-time vision of Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy, making alliances and partnerships throughout the region, aiming to bring stability and prosperity to the world. This policy has the support of many countries, including India and the United States. I can only imagine his regret at losing his life so tragically just as Japan was about to push ahead with his signature initiative.
Let me now focus specifically on Japan-India relations. The government of India declared a day of state mourning as a mark of deepest respect, and Prime Minister Modi’s touching words of tribute and of condolence were all widely reported in Japan. As you are all aware that this close relationship between the leaders of India and Japan is what further strengthened the bilateral friendly ties, cementing larger cooperative partnership in trade, defense and security. Many foreign dignitaries have visited Japan, but only Prime Minister Modi received invitation to Abe’s villa in the foothills of Mount Fuji. This shows the close personal bond between the two, and furthermore how much Japan sees India as an important friend.
Let us together carry forward the legacy of Mr. Abe. Our efforts will be to further strengthening Japan-India relations, and for the stability, prosperity, and peace of the region. This, I believe, is the best way to honor the deceased soul of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
*This video message is available at The Nippon Foundation YouTube.