Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, Shinzo Abe was an outstanding leader of Japan, a towering global statesman and a great champion of India-Japan friendship. He said, Japan and the world have lost a great visionary and he has lost a dear friend.<br />'' <br />'' Remembering his friend Shinzo Abe, Mr. Modi said in a blog, he first met Mr. Abe in 2007 during his visit to Japan as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. Right from that first meeting, their friendship went beyond the trappings of office and the shackles of official protocol. He said, even when Mr. Abe was not the Prime Minister of Japan between 2007 and 2012 and more recently after 2020, their personal bond remained as strong as ever. Mr. Modi said, every meeting with Abe San was intellectually stimulating and he was always full of new ideas and invaluable insights on governance, economy, culture, foreign policy and various other subjects.<br />'' <br />'' The Prime Minister said, it was his privilege to work with Mr. Abe to bring about an unprecedented transformation of the strategic partnership between India and Japan. He said, Mr. Abe was resolute in pursuing the civil nuclear agreement with India, a most difficult one for his country and decisive in offering the most generous terms for the High Speed Rail in India. He said, Mr. Abe ensured that Japan is there side by side as New India accelerates its growth. He said, Shinzo Abe's contribution to India-Japan relations was richly recognized by the conferment upon him of the prestigious Padma Vibhushan in 2021.<br />'' <br />''Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, Mr. Abe led from the front in building a framework and architecture for stable, secure, peaceful and prosperous future. He said, the Quad, the ASEAN-led forums, the Indo Pacific Oceans Initiative, the Asia-Africa Growth Corridor and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure all benefited from his contributions. Mr. Modi said, during his Japan visit in May this year, he had the opportunity to meet Abe San, who had just taken over as the Chair of the Japan-India Association. He was his usual self – energetic, captivating, charismatic and very witty. Mr. Modi said, when he said goodbye to Mr. Abe that day, little did he imagine that it would be their final meeting. He said, he will always be indebted for Mr. Abe's warmth and wisdom, grace and generosity, friendship and guidance. The Prime Minister said, Mr. Abe's life may have been cut short tragically, but his legacy will endure forever. PM Modi extended his heart-felt condolences on behalf of the people of India to Shinzo Abe's family and people of Japan. <br />