Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida on the sidelines of the Quad Leaders’ Summit in the United States, where they reviewed the India-Japan relationship and discussed ways to expand bilateral ties. This significant meeting took place on September 21 in Wilmington, Delaware, and highlighted various avenues for strengthening cooperation between the two nations.
Focus on Infrastructure, Defence, and Green Energy Cooperation
During their discussions, Prime Minister Modi shared details of the meeting on social media platform X, stating, “Had a very good meeting with PM Kishida. Discussed cooperation in infrastructure, semiconductors, defence, green energy, and more. Strong India-Japan ties are great for global prosperity.” Both leaders expressed their intent to deepen collaboration across these sectors and explore opportunities for mutual growth.
Recalling a Decade of Strategic Partnership
The meeting was also an occasion to reflect on the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership, which is in its 10th year. PM Modi acknowledged PM Kishida’s dedication and leadership in advancing this partnership over the years. In his own post on X, PM Kishida emphasized that Japan and India would continue to work together, saying, “I noted that my first bilateral visit as PM was to India and spoke to the various accomplishments to date. I conveyed that Japan and India will continue the coordination to advance global governance.”
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) noted that the two leaders were satisfied with the progress made over the years and reviewed multiple facets of their relationship. Both Prime Ministers discussed deepening cooperation in defence, security, business-to-business engagements, and cultural exchanges. They agreed to continue working together on a range of initiatives, and PM Kishida announced that Japan would be welcoming PM Modi for an annual reciprocal visit.
Farewell Meeting with Outgoing Japanese PM Kishida
PM Modi took the opportunity to bid farewell to PM Kishida, who is expected to step down as Prime Minister after Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party leadership election on September 27. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri described this meeting as mainly a farewell one, saying, “The Prime Minister appreciated in a very fulsome fashion the contribution to the bilateral relationship that has been made by Prime Minister Kishida.”
The two leaders agreed that the upcoming 10th anniversary of the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership should be celebrated in a meaningful manner. Discussions included Japan’s 5 trillion Yen investment program in India, cooperation on semiconductors, and the establishment of Japanese industrial centers in India. Both sides acknowledged the progress made in economic cooperation and set ambitious goals for the future.
Quad Summit and Future Outlook
Foreign Secretary Misri reiterated that “The Quad is here to stay, to assist, to partner, and to complement the efforts of the Indo-Pacific countries.” He further revealed that India will host the Quad Summit in 2025, emphasizing that the leaders have taken stock of the progress made by the Quad over the last year and have set an ambitious agenda for the upcoming year.
This meeting underscores the strengthening ties between India and Japan and their shared commitment to contributing positively to the Indo-Pacific region’s prosperity and stability.
