New Delhi, July 10, (Agency) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese on Saturday issued a joint statement mourning the demise of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, calling him a “transformative leader”. “We, the leaders of Australia, India, and the United States, are shocked at the tragic assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Prime Minister Abe was a transformative leader for Japan and for Japanese relations with each one of our countries,” the statement read.
“He also played a formative role in the founding of the Quad partnership, and worked tirelessly to advance a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific. Our hearts are with the people of Japan — and Prime Minister Kishida— in this moment of grief. We will honor Prime Minister Abe’s memory by redoubling our work towards a peaceful and prosperous region,” the statement added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the untimely demise of Shinzo Abe as unbearable painful.
“Today is a day of irreparable loss and unbearable pain for me. My close friend and former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe is no more with us. Abe was not just my friend, he was equally a trusted friend of India. During his tenure, India-Japan relations not only got a new height, but we also carried forward the relations of the common heritage of the two countries,” he said addressing a program in the capital.US President Joe Biden visited the Japanese ambassador’s residence after Abe’s assassination and penned a goodbye note to offer his condolences to the late former Japan Prime Minister.