PM Modi leaves for Japan for 15th India-Japan annual summit
New Delhi, Aug 28: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will depart for Japan tonight to participate in the 15th India–Japan Annual Summit, reaffirming what he described as the “strong India–Japan bond of friendship.”
During his two-day visit from August 29–30, the Prime Minister will hold talks with his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida, before travelling onward to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, where he is expected to engage with several other world leaders.
ndia and Japan share a Special Strategic and Global Partnership established in 2014, anchored in civilizational ties and reinforced by a convergence in their regional and global outlooks. While India’s Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) complement Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) strategy, the two countries also cooperate across platforms such as the Quad, International Solar Alliance (ISA), Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), and Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI).
DEEPENING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
Annual Summits, held since 2006, have provided strategic direction to this partnership. In recent years, high-level visits have underscored the growing trust: former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s “Confluence of Two Seas” speech in Parliament (2007), Emperor Akihito’s historic India visit (2013), and Prime Minister Kishida’s multiple visits since 2022, which pledged over USD 42 billion in investment and launched initiatives in clean energy, industrial competitiveness, and tourism.
Defence cooperation has emerged as a central pillar. India and Japan conduct regular bilateral and multilateral exercises—including Malabar, JIMEX, and Dharma Guardian—and have signed key agreements such as the Reciprocal Provision of Supplies and Services Agreement (2020). Joint projects like the UNICORN naval mast demonstrate increasing defence technology collaboration.
ECONOMIC AND INFRASTRUCTURE TIES
Japan is India’s fifth-largest source of foreign direct investment, with cumulative inflows of USD 43.2 billion by December 2024. Over 1,400 Japanese companies operate in India, particularly in sectors such as automobiles, digital technologies, and clean energy. Flagship infrastructure projects, most notably the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (Shinkansen), symbolise Japan’s role as India’s largest Official Development Assistance (ODA) partner. In March 2023, Tokyo extended a fresh tranche of JPY 300 billion (USD 2.2 billion) for the project.
Bilateral trade has remained steady at around USD 22–23 billion annually, with India exporting chemicals, vehicles, and aluminium, and importing machinery, steel, and reactors from Japan. Both countries are now focusing on new domains like semiconductors, startups, supply chain resilience, and green energy transition.
REGIONAL AND GLOBAL COOPERATION
Beyond bilateral frameworks, India and Japan have become key players in shaping the Indo-Pacific architecture. Through the Quad, both countries work closely with the US and Australia to advance a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific. At the multilateral level, they coordinated during India’s G20 and Japan’s G7 presidencies in 2023, amplifying the priorities of the Global South.
Science, technology, and space exploration are also emerging priorities. The year 2025–26 has been designated as the India–Japan Year of Science, Technology and Innovation Exchanges, marking 40 years of bilateral S&T cooperation. ISRO and JAXA continue joint projects in lunar exploration and satellite applications.
PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE TIES
Cultural and educational exchanges remain robust, with over 665 partnerships between Indian and Japanese universities, and growing student and tourism flows. More than 54,000 Indians live in Japan, mainly in technology and engineering sectors, while language learning and cultural initiatives continue to deepen mutual understanding.
The 2025 Annual Summit is expected to set new benchmarks in economic security, digital technologies, clean energy, and connectivity, while reaffirming the shared Indo-Pacific vision. With both countries marking more than a decade of their Special Strategic and Global Partnership, the visit is seen as a significant step in further consolidating ties at a time of global flux.
