Prime Minister Narendra Modi has landed in Tokyo, Japan, for a two-day official visit to participate in the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit. This marks his first solo trip to Japan in almost seven years. The visit, which is at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, is scheduled from August 29 to 30.
Upon arrival in Tokyo on August 29, 2025, members of the Indian diaspora welcomed PM Modi. During the summit, Modi and Ishiba will conduct a comprehensive review of the entire spectrum of bilateral relations. Their discussions will aim to advance the "next phase" of the Special Strategic and Global Partnership, which has steadily progressed over the past 11 years. Both leaders are expected to explore ways to deepen collaboration across various sectors, including trade, technology, energy, and defense. They will also focus on strengthening people-to-people exchanges and reaffirming their shared commitment to peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
PM Modi expressed confidence that his visit to Japan, along with his subsequent trip to China, would serve India's national interests and priorities. He emphasized the potential for these visits to contribute to fruitful cooperation in promoting regional and global peace, security, and sustainable development.
During the summit, PM Modi and PM Ishiba will aim to give "new wings" to their collaboration. This includes expanding the scope and ambition of India-Japan economic and investment ties, as well as advancing cooperation in new and emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and semiconductors. The visit will also provide an opportunity to strengthen the civilizational and cultural bonds between the two nations.
India and Japan share historical ties rooted in civilizational and cultural exchanges. The consecration of the Great Buddha at Todaiji Temple in Nara by the Indian monk Bodhisena in 752 AD exemplifies these early connections. Japanese traditions such as Shichifukujin (Seven Lucky Gods) also demonstrate Hindu influences. In modern history, figures like Swami Vivekananda, Rabindranath Tagore, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, and Justice Radha Binod Pal have further strengthened these ties.
Both nations share a common vision for a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region. India's Act East Policy, SAGAR doctrine, and Indo-Pacific Oceans' Initiative align closely with Japan's Free and Open Indo-Pacific vision. Cooperation also extends to multilateral frameworks such as the Quad and the India–Japan–Australia Supply Chain Resilience Initiative. Defence ties between India and Japan have steadily grown, with joint military exercises such as MALABAR, JIMEX, and Dharma Guardian. Agreements on defense technology transfer, logistics, and information sharing have further strengthened security cooperation.
Japan is a key economic partner for India. Bilateral trade reached USD 22.85 billion in FY 2023–24. The year 2025–26 has been declared the “India–Japan Year of Science, Technology and Innovation Exchanges,” marking 40 years of cooperation in this field. Collaboration includes space technology (ISRO–JAXA), clean energy, digital technologies, and semiconductors. Educational partnerships have grown to more than 665 institutional linkages, while the Indian diaspora in Japan has expanded to over 54,000.
Following his visit to Japan, PM Modi will travel to China from August 31 to September 1 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin at the invitation of President Xi Jinping. India is an active and constructive member of the SCO and remains committed to working with its members to address shared challenges and deepen regional cooperation. PM Modi looks forward to meeting President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and other leaders on the sidelines of the Summit.
