Tokyo: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shigeru Ishiba faced the press together on Friday (29 August) after holding wide-ranging talks in Tokyo. “I had a productive and purposeful discussion with Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba,” PM Modi said, signalling renewed momentum in the partnership.
The meeting formed the core of the 15th India–Japan Annual Summit, held during PM Modi’s two-day official visit. It is his first standalone trip to Japan in almost seven years and his first Annual Summit with Ishiba. The Indian leader was received with a Guard of Honour, underlining the ceremonial weight attached to the occasion.
Talks stretched across defence, security, trade, technology, and people-to-people links. Both leaders also touched on regional and global flashpoints, framing the dialogue as part of their “special strategic and global partnership”.
Japan, officials confirmed, is preparing to double its investment pledge in India to $68 billion over the coming decade. The focus will fall on semiconductors, clean energy, artificial intelligence and robotics. Defence cooperation is also being upgraded under the 2008 pact, aimed at reinforcing Indo-Pacific security through the Quad grouping. Infrastructure, particularly the high-speed rail link between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, remains a priority.
At the India–Japan Joint Economic Forum, PM Modi urged Japanese businesses to scale up their footprint. “Come, make in India, make for the world,” he said, stressing that Japanese expertise combined with Indian capacity could drive technological breakthroughs this century.
Beyond the summit, PM Modi also met Japanese MPs and former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, describing him as a steadfast supporter of closer ties.
From Tokyo, PM Modi will travel to Tianjin in China (August 31 and September 1) to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit at the invitation of President Xi Jinping. India, a full SCO member since 2017, will join Eurasian leaders to discuss security, connectivity and trade. Bilateral talks on the sidelines are also expected.