New Delhi: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has met Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo and sought technical support for laying high speed rail link in the state to connect places relate to Buddhist circuit.
The proposed high speed rail link will be known as “Peace Corridor”.
PM Abe welcomed Bihar CM to the land of Japan and spoke of growing ties between India and Japan.
Nitish, in his speech, spoke about cooperation and special bonding between Japan and Bihar and thanked Abe for inviting him to Japan.
While highlighting the importance of Nalanda University, Bodhgaya and Bihar’s Buddhist circuit, Nitish sought technical support from Japan in laying of the proposed high speed rail link which will be connected to the road network of Buddhist circuit and developed as ‘Peace Corridor’ linking all important places related to Lord Buddha.
He also invited Japan PM to Bihar. “Whenever you make next visit to India, please spare some time for Bihar your valuable hours,” Nitish said while making a fervent request to Abe.
During his meeting with Abe, Nitish spoke on diverse sectors and discussed about “huge opportunities” of investment in sectors like tourism, agriculture and food processing industries in Bihar.
Discussing about friendly ties between the two countries, Nitish said the recent tour of Indian PM NarendraModi to Japan and Abe’s visit to India had further strengthen the bonding between the two nations.
He said the works on linking Patna through a four-lane road corridor from places like Gaya, Bodhgaya, Rajgir and Nalanda were already in progress with the assistance of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), but it needs to be extended to Vaishali. “The relevance Buddhist circuit will be increased further, If the four-lane corridor is extended up to Vaishali, another important place related to Lord Buddha. It will provide more convenience to tourists interested in visiting all important places related to Buddhism,” Bihar CM told Abe.
Nitish also informed Abe that he would have separate discussion on issues related to Patna Metro project and Japanese assistance in Nalanda University with the concerned ministers in Japan.
After having a very cordial talk with Abe, Bihar CM called on Japan’s foreign minister Taro Kono and discussed in details ties between the two nations. Kono recalled his visit to India.
Nitish requested Kono for introducing a direct flight from Bihar to Japan for convenience of Japanese tourists visiting the land of Buddha’s enlightenment. He said the direct flight would further strengthen ties between the two countries.