PM Modi Begins Two-Day Visit to Japan, Eyes Strengthened Economic, Technological Ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Tokyo on a two-day visit at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to attend the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit. Modi described the visit as an opportunity to advance India’s national interests while reinforcing regional and global peace and security.

“I look forward to engaging with PM Ishiba and others during this visit, thus providing an opportunity to deepen existing partnerships and explore new avenues of collaboration,” Modi wrote on X upon arrival.

During his first standalone visit to Japan in seven years, Modi met with members of the Indian community in Tokyo, praising their “commitment to preserving cultural roots while contributing meaningfully to Japanese society.” Japanese artists also performed cultural programs to welcome the Prime Minister.

Summit agenda:
The summit is expected to focus on deepening economic and investment partnerships, enhancing cultural ties, and advancing cooperation in emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence and semiconductors. According to Bloomberg, Modi may secure investment pledges worth $68 billion during the visit, alongside a potential economic security pact covering semiconductors, critical minerals, and AI.

India and Japan are also expected to announce a deal for the manufacture of next-generation E10 Shinkansen bullet trains in India, a project compared in scale and strategic importance to the Maruti Suzuki joint venture four decades ago.

Following Japan, Modi will travel to China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin and meet President Xi Jinping on August 31.