Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with the newly appointed Prime Minister of Japan, Shigeru Ishiba on the sidelines of the ASEAN-India Summit in Laos. Prime Minister Modi congratulated Prime Minister Ishiba on his new role and expressed his best wishes for Japan’s continued success.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed that PM Modi emphasized that India places the highest priority on its relationship with Japan, a trusted friend and strategic partner.
“Had a very productive meeting with PM Ishiba. I’m happy to have met him just a few days after he became Japan’s PM. Our talks included ways to enhance cooperation in infrastructure, connectivity, defence and more. Boosting cultural linkages was also discussed”, the Indian Prime Minister wrote on X.
As per the MEA, the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership. They discussed enhancing cooperation in various areas, including trade and investment, infrastructure development, defense and security, semiconductors, skilling, culture, and people-to-people exchanges. It also stated that both the leaders looked forward to the next India-Japan annual summit.
“Both leaders emphasized that India and Japan are indispensable partners for a peaceful, safe, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region and renewed their commitment to working together to achieve this goal”
India’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Japan has reported that Ishiba, who recently advocated for an Asian NATO, expressed his desire to boost cooperation in economic, security, and people-to-people exchanges. He also indicated his readiness to push forward specific cooperation initiatives in preparation for Modi’s upcoming visit to Japan. Modi is anticipated to visit Japan later this year for the annual India-Japan summit.
“Prime Minister Ishiba stated that he hopes to further promote cooperation in the fields of economy, security, and people-to-people exchange and he would like to move forward concrete cooperation in preparation for Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Japan”
Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ishiba was formally elected as Japan’s Prime Minister by the country’s parliament on October 1, 2024. He succeeded Fumio Kishida, whose administration was marred by scandals. Ishiba, a veteran politician and former defense minister, won the leadership election of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in a tight contest against the potential first female PM of Japan, Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi. This victory marked his fifth attempt at securing the party’s top position.
India’s relations with Japan
The modern Japan-India relationship began to take shape in August 2000, when Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori visited India. During this visit, he and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee established the “Global Partnership between Japan and India.” This partnership was further solidified with annual summit meetings starting in 2005, following Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s visit to India. In December 2006, the relationship was elevated to a “Global and Strategic Partnership” during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Japan.
In September 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to Japan marked another significant milestone. He and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed to upgrade the bilateral relationship to a “Special Strategic and Global Partnership.” This partnership was further deepened in December 2015, when Prime Minister Abe visited India. The two leaders announced the “Japan and India Vision 2025,” a joint statement aimed at guiding the new era in Japan-India relations.
In recent years, the economic relationship between Japan and India has grown significantly. Trade volume has increased, with India being Japan’s 18th largest trading partner and Japan being India’s 13th in 2021. Japanese direct investment in India has also risen, making Japan the 5th largest investor in FY2021. Interest from Japanese private-sector companies is high, with about 1,439 Japanese companies operating in India as of 2021.
Modi’s 10-point Plan for ASEAN
At the 21st ASEAN-India Summit, Modi unveiled a 10-point plan to celebrate ten years of India’s Act East Policy. This plan includes initiatives such as the ASEAN-India Cyber Policy Dialogue, designating 2025 as the ASEAN-India Year of Tourism, and doubling the scholarships available at Nalanda University, among other measures.
PM Modi highlighted at the India-ASEAN leaders’ summit in Vientiane, Laos, the importance of “respect” for “each other’s national integrity and sovereignty”
“I believe that the 21st century is the ‘Asian Century’, a century for India and ASEAN countries. Today, when there is conflict and tension in many parts of the world, the friendship, coordination, dialogue and cooperation between India and ASEAN are of utmost importance,” he said.
Manbilas Singh is a talented writer and journalist who focuses on the finer details in every story and values integrity above everything. A self-proclaimed sleuth, he strives to expose the fine print behind seemingly mundane activities and aims to uncover the truth that is hidden from the general public. In his time away from work, he is a music aficionado and a nerd who revels in video & board games, books and Formula 1.
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