Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently in Tokyo for a two-day official visit to attend the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit. This visit, made at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, marks PM Modi's first standalone trip to Japan in nearly seven years. The primary focus of the summit is to strengthen the Special Strategic and Global Partnership between India and Japan, which has seen consistent progress over the past 11 years.
Upon his arrival in Tokyo on Friday, August 29, 2025, PM Modi expressed his eagerness to engage with PM Ishiba and other Japanese leaders. The Ministry of External Affairs also conveyed the same sentiment. He emphasized that the visit presents an opportunity to deepen existing partnerships and explore new avenues for collaboration. PM Modi highlighted that both countries would focus on shaping the next phase of their Special Strategic and Global Partnership. This includes expanding the scope and ambition of economic and investment ties and advancing cooperation in new and emerging technologies such as AI and semiconductors.
The India-Japan summit is expected to cover a wide array of topics, including defense and security cooperation, economic and trade collaboration, technological innovation, and people-to-people exchanges. Discussions will also extend to regional and global issues, reflecting the shared vision of both countries in addressing contemporary challenges. Both leaders are expected to launch new initiatives aimed at strengthening cooperation and addressing emerging global challenges.
In his departure statement, PM Modi expressed confidence that his visits to Japan and China would further India's national interests and priorities, contributing to regional and global peace, security, and sustainable development. From Japan, PM Modi will travel to China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin. He looks forward to meeting President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and other leaders on the sidelines of the Summit.
During his stay in Japan, PM Modi is scheduled to meet with Japanese political and business leaders, as well as members of the Indian diaspora. These interactions aim to foster deeper trade, investment, and technology relations between the two countries. According to a Bloomberg report, PM Modi may secure investment pledges worth $68 billion during this visit. An economic security pact focusing on semiconductors, critical minerals, and AI may also be signed.
This visit is PM Modi's eighth to Japan since he assumed office in 2014 and his first annual summit with PM Ishiba, highlighting the high importance India places on its relationship with Japan. The two nations share a long history of diplomatic engagement, including multiple high-level visits and partnerships in trade, investment, clean energy, infrastructure, and technology. Bilateral trade between India and Japan reached USD 22.8 billion in 2023-24, with Japan being India's fifth-largest source of foreign direct investment, amounting to USD 43.2 billion.
