Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on a significant diplomatic journey, beginning with a two-day official visit to Tokyo, his first standalone trip to Japan in nearly seven years. This visit is strategically designed to advance India’s national interests, strengthen bilateral ties with Japan, and foster cooperation on both regional and global platforms.
The discussions between PM Modi and his Japanese counterparts are anticipated to go beyond a mere exchange of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs). According to India’s envoy to Japan, Sibi George, the leaders are expected to hold extensive deliberations on the current geopolitical and geo-economic landscape, particularly in the context of US President Donald Trump’s ongoing trade war.
With India facing increasing trade tensions with the United States, New Delhi is keen to deepen its economic relationship with Tokyo. The visit aims to explore new avenues for collaboration in trade, technology, and investment.
Beyond economic matters, the trip highlights the strategic alignment of these two major Asian democracies. Their cooperation is rooted in civilisational linkages and extends to crucial areas like regional security and global governance.
PM Modi's itinerary and key engagements
This trip marks a series of "firsts" for PM Modi. It is his first standalone visit to Japan in nearly seven years and his first bilateral summit with Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba. While he last attended the India-Japan Annual Summit in 2018, this visit is his eighth to Japan since taking office in 2014.
During his two-day stay, PM Modi's schedule is packed with high-level engagements. His itinerary includes:
- Business Leaders' Forum: From 10:30 am to 11:10 am, PM Modi will participate in a business event with leading figures from the Japanese and Indian industries. The forum is aimed at promoting trade, investment, and technology exchange. A key announcement expected during the visit is the partnership for manufacturing the next-generation E10 Shinkansen bullet trains in India.
- Meetings with Dignitaries: From 11:30 am to 1:10 pm, PM Modi will meet with various Japanese dignitaries.
- Cultural Visit: Later in the day, he will visit the Shorinzan-Daruma-Ji, a Zen Buddhist temple.
- India-Japan Annual Summit: The main event of the visit, the India-Japan Annual Summit, is scheduled from 2:30 pm to 5:15 pm.
Economic snapshot of India-Japan trade
Trade relations between India and Japan have remained stable. As per to media reports, bilateral trade reached $21 billion in the first nine months of the 2024-25 fiscal year. Japan is also a major investor in India, ranking as the fifth-largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI).
Cumulative Japanese investments in India stood at $43.2 billion as of December 2024. Annual FDI inflows have been strong, with $3.1 billion in 2023-24 and $1.36 billion recorded between April and December 2024-25.
Following Japan, PM Modi to attend SCO Summit in China
After concluding his visit to Japan, PM Modi will travel to Tianjin, China, from August 31 to September 1 to attend the annual Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. On the sidelines of this summit, he is expected to hold bilateral meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
PM Modi highlighted India's role as an "active and constructive member of SCO", noting that during its presidency, India introduced new ideas and initiated collaboration in areas like innovation, health, and cultural exchanges. He expressed his anticipation for the meetings with key leaders, stating, "I also look forward to meeting President Xi Jinping, President Putin and other leaders on the sidelines of the summit."
Emphasising India’s commitment to working with SCO members to address shared challenges and deepen regional cooperation, PM Modi concluded by expressing confidence that his visits to both Japan and China would "further our national interests and priorities and contribute to building fruitful cooperation in advancing regional and global peace, security, and sustainable development."
Also Read: PM Modi to meet Xi Jinping in Tianjin during SCO summit
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