PM Modi and Japanese PM Takaichi Strengthen Strategic Partnership at G20 Summit: Focus on Innovation, Defense and Trade

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Japan in August this year, setting the stage for continued diplomatic engagement.

In Johannesburg, Prime Minister Modi met with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on the sidelines of the G20 Summit to strengthen bilateral relations between the two nations.

During their productive meeting, the leaders explored ways to enhance cooperation in key areas including innovation, defense, and talent mobility.

"Had a productive meeting with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi of Japan. We discussed ways to add momentum to bilateral cooperation in areas such as innovation, defence, talent mobility and more," PM Modi shared on social media.

The leaders also emphasized their intention to bolster trade relationships between India and Japan, with PM Modi noting, "We are also looking to enhance trade ties between our nations. A strong India-Japan partnership is vital for a better planet."

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, both leaders reaffirmed the importance of the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership, which is founded on "civilizational connect, shared values, mutual goodwill and commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific."

The leaders expressed their commitment to deepening bilateral ties for regional and global peace, prosperity, and stability.

They acknowledged the progress made during the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit and called for swift implementation of outcomes in various domains including defense and security, trade and investment, SMEs, Artificial Intelligence, critical minerals, semiconductors, infrastructure development, technology and innovation, and people-to-people exchanges.

The discussion also covered collaborative opportunities in strategic sectors and included an exchange of views on regional and global issues.

Prime Minister Takaichi expressed strong support for the upcoming AI Summit that India will host in February 2026.

This meeting marks the first interaction between PM Modi and Takaichi since she assumed leadership of Japan in October.

During PM Modi's visit to Japan in August, the two countries solidified 13 key agreements and declarations while launching several transformative initiatives.

Both nations adopted the India-Japan Joint Vision for the Next Decade. Building upon the progress toward the 2022-2026 target of JPY 5 trillion in public and private investment from Japan to India, they established an ambitious new goal of JPY 10 trillion (USD 68 billion) in private investment for the near future.

This vision highlights the growing strategic alignment between India and Japan, particularly in clean energy and emerging technologies.