Tokyo, August 29: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Tokyo, Japan, on Friday for a two-day official visit during which he will hold wide-ranging talks with his Japanese counterpart Shigeru Ishiba. The visit, scheduled from August 29–30, will focus on strengthening bilateral ties across defense, economic security, technology, and cultural cooperation.
20 Years of Annual India-Japan Summits
The visit also marks the 20th anniversary of the annual India-Japan Summit, first held in 2005 when Japanese PM Junichiro Koizumi met Indian PM Manmohan Singh in Delhi. Since then, the dialogue has become the cornerstone of the Special Strategic and Global Partnership between the two nations.
Key Agendas of the 2025 Summit
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Security Cooperation: The two leaders are expected to upgrade the 2008 Declaration on Security Cooperation, opening pathways for new defense hardware purchases.
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Economic Security Initiative: A new framework to build resilient supply chains in critical areas such as minerals, Artificial Intelligence, and emerging technologies will be unveiled.
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Japanese Investments: Japan is likely to increase its investment targets in India to around $68 billion, reinforcing its role as a key economic partner.
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Vision 2035 Statement: Modi and Ishiba are expected to release a joint “2035 Vision Statement”, which will chart the future of bilateral relations, upgrading the 2015 Vision Statement signed between Modi and former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe.
Warm Welcome in Tokyo
Upon his arrival, PM Modi was greeted warmly by members of the Indian diaspora and the Japanese community. Sharing his gratitude on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote:
“Deeply touched by the warmth and affection of the Indian community here in Tokyo. Their commitment to preserving our cultural roots while contributing meaningfully to Japanese society is truly commendable.”
Business & Trade Optimism
Japanese industry leaders have hailed Modi’s visit as timely. Kazuya Nakajo, Executive Vice President of the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), noted that a recent survey showed over 80% of Japanese companies in India plan to expand operations in the coming years.
Next Stop: China for SCO Summit
Following Japan, PM Modi will travel to Tianjin, China, to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, where he will engage with leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Modi reaffirmed India’s commitment to the grouping, stating that “India has always played an active and constructive role and will continue working with SCO members to address shared challenges.”
