India and Japan Saturday signed the Kyoto-Varanasi partnership agreement, an official said.

 

 The partnership, which focuses on how to preserve heritage while building smart cities, was signed between Kyoto Mayor Daisaku Kadokawa and  India's Ambassador to Japan Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa, ministry of external affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said.

 

 "Partners in heritage. Kyoto-Varnasi partnership agreement signed  in  presence of @PMOIndia  and PM @abeshinzo in State Guest House," Akbaruddin tweeted.

 

 "Varanasi & Kyoto partner in Smart Heritage Cities prog. Amb Wadhwa &  Mayor Kadokawa sign MoU. PM @narendramodi & PM @AbeShinzo witness," he said in a second tweet.

 

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Japan Saturday on a five-day official visit and was received by his Japanese counterpart Abe in Kyoto.

 

 Earlier, Akbaruddin said that Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan, had been included in Modi's schedule as it "dovetails into Modi's emphasis on rejuvenation of cities while preserving their cultural heritage." The Hindu holy city of Varanasi in part of the prime minister's Lok Sabha constituency.