Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that India and Japan have great role in ensuring Asia’s importance in global position.

He was delivering keynote address at Business luncheon hosted by Nippon Keidanren, Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Japan-India Business Cooperation Committee -Keidanren Kaikan today morning.

He said that nations should decide whether to be expansionist or development oriented.

Without naming countries, he criticized nations entering other countries and entering the maritime zones of other nations.

He said that nations should take path of development and reach new heights. He stressed the importance of Budha’s path of peace and progress.

The Prime Minister said that in the past 100 days his government took many initiatives. He said that Special Investment Cell will be set up under PMO to see invest proposal from Japan.

Some businessmen from India also attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, the stage is set for the summit meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe at Akasaka Palace in Tokyo today.

Talking to AIR correspondent on the eve of the meeting, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said that both leaders will discuss a whole range of issues, including co-operation in Defence and Infrastructure development.

Earlier, Mr. Modi interacted with teachers and officials of Education department of Japan at the 136-year old Taimei Elementary school in Tokyo this morning.

He said that steps are being taken to bring modernization, moral education and discipline in primary education in India. He invited Japanese language teachers including retired persons to teach the language in India.

He lauded the efforts of all concerned in Japan in establishing the school after the entire school was damaged on this day in 1923 during earthquake.

The Prime Minister said that the incident remembered him the earthquake of Gujarat in the year 2001.