PM Modi departs for Japan and China to strengthen strategic and economic ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday departed for Japan for a two-day official visit to Japan to attend the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit. The visit is aimed at advancing India’s national priorities, strengthening bilateral ties, and promoting regional and global cooperation.

In the first leg of his trip, Modi is visiting Japan on August 29 to 30. He is scheduled to hold summit talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

"We would focus on shaping the next phase in our Special Strategic and Global Partnership, which has made steady and significant progress over the past 11 years," PM Modi said in a statement before his departure.

"We would endeavour to give new wings to our collaboration, expand scope and ambition of our economic and investment ties, and advance cooperation in new and emerging technologies, including AI and semiconductors," he added.

PM MODI TO ATTEND SCO SUMMIT IN CHINA

Following his Japan visit, Modi will travel to Tianjin, China, from August 31 to September 1 to attend the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). On the sidelines of the summit, he is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"India is an active and constructive member of SCO. During our presidency, we have introduced new ideas and initiated collaboration in the fields of innovation, health and cultural exchanges," PM Modi said. "I also look forward to meeting President Xi Jinping, President Putin and other leaders on the sidelines of the summit."

He stressed India’s commitment to working with SCO members to address challenges and to deepen regional cooperation. "I am confident that my visits to 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," he said.

This trip marks Modi’s first standalone visit to Japan in nearly seven years and his first bilateral summit with Ishiba. Modi last attended the India-Japan Annual Summit in 2018. It is also Modi’s eighth visit to Japan since he assumed office in 2014.

Trade between India and Japan has remained steady. According to the news agency Reuters, in the first nine months of the 2024-25 fiscal year, bilateral trade reached USD 21 billion.

Japan is India’s fifth-largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI), with cumulative investments amounting to USD 43.2 billion as of December 2024. Annual FDI inflows from Japan have been robust, reaching USD 3.1 billion in 2023-24 and USD 1.36 billion in April-December 2024-25.

- Ends

With inputs from agencies

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