External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Monday said a closer India-Japan partnership is most natural and has had a central place in India's modernisation and development efforts. "It has long been involved in expansion of our economic and social infrastructure. Across our states and cities, Japanese official development systems have funded roads, rails, urbanisation and energy," said Jaishankar during an event at the water purification plant in Kharghuli. Asserting that Japan was the original model for the revival of nation post-colonialism, the minister said a cumulative impact of this relationship on contemporary India is worth noting. "It is actually remarkable that within a decade, the India-Japan partnership is today seen in Asia, perhaps in the world, as most natural and close. The awarding of Padma Vibhushan to previous (Japan) PM Shinzo Abe was symbolic of our journey," he added.