NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday arrived in Tokyo for a two-day visit, his first trip to Japan in seven years, to hold summit-level talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
“Landed in Tokyo. As India and Japan continue to strengthen developmental cooperation, I look forward to engaging with PM Ishiba and others during this visit. This provides an opportunity to deepen existing partnerships and explore new avenues of collaboration,” Modi posted on X.
The Indian diaspora gave him a vibrant welcome, complete with traditional performances and enthusiastic cheers. This marks Modi’s eighth visit to Japan since 2014, but his first annual summit with Ishiba.
Key Agendas
The visit, at the invitation of PM Ishiba, will feature wide-ranging discussions covering:
- Regional & global issues – including a review of progress across multiple sectors.
- Indo-Pacific cooperation – reinforcing commitment to a free, open, and inclusive region.
- Quad coordination – with defence, security exercises, and technology transfer in focus.
- Economic security – including the launch of a new bilateral initiative.
Modi is also expected to ride a bullet train from Tokyo to Sendai, where he will visit a semiconductor facility, highlighting Japan’s growing role in India’s tech and infrastructure push. Tokyo, meanwhile, is hoping that differences between India and the US can be resolved ahead of a planned Quad summit later this year.
Next Stop: China
After Japan, Modi will head to Tianjin at the invitation of President Xi Jinping for the SCO Summit. In a departure statement, he reiterated India’s role as an “active and constructive member,” pointing to initiatives launched during its presidency in fields like innovation, health, and cultural exchanges.
“I also look forward to meeting President Xi Jinping, President Putin, and other leaders on the sidelines of the summit,” he said, emphasizing India’s commitment to expanding regional cooperation and addressing shared challenges.
