PM Modi Begins Two-Day Visit to Japan for 15th Annual Summit with PM Ishiba

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Tokyo on Friday for a two-day official visit to Japan to participate in the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit. This marks his eighth visit to Japan as Prime Minister and his first bilateral summit-level meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. The two leaders will review the progress of the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership across defence, economy, technology, and cultural cooperation, while also addressing pressing regional and global issues. Modi will also engage with Japanese industry leaders to strengthen economic collaboration. Following the visit, he will travel to China for the 25th SCO Council of Heads of State Meeting.

Tokyo, Aug 2025 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Tokyo on Friday, commencing his two-day official visit to Japan to attend the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit, scheduled for August 29–30. This high-profile engagement highlights the growing depth of the India-Japan partnership and the shared commitment of both countries to advancing bilateral, regional, and global cooperation.

On his arrival at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, Prime Minister Modi was warmly received by ONO Keiichi, Japan’s Ambassador to India, Sibi George, India’s Ambassador to Japan, and senior Japanese officials. Members of the Indian diaspora also welcomed him enthusiastically with traditional performances and cultural displays, underlining the strong people-to-people ties between India and Japan.

Taking to the social media platform X, PM Modi expressed optimism about the visit, stating, “Landed in Tokyo. As India and Japan continue to strengthen their developmental cooperation, 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.”

This visit marks PM Modi’s eighth trip to Japan as Prime Minister, underscoring the importance New Delhi places on Tokyo as a strategic partner. During the summit, he will hold his first bilateral summit-level talks with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who took office recently. The meeting is expected to set the tone for enhanced collaboration across multiple fronts.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has emphasized that the two leaders will review the progress of the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership, a wide-ranging framework that encompasses defence and security, trade and economy, science and technology, innovation, digital cooperation, and cultural exchanges. Discussions will also cover issues of regional security, Indo-Pacific stability, sustainable development, and global peace initiatives.

Japan is one of India’s most trusted strategic partners, with bilateral relations elevated to a Special Strategic and Global Partnership in 2014. In recent years, the two countries have expanded cooperation in infrastructure development, clean energy, digital innovation, climate action, and resilient supply chains. Defence ties have also grown, with joint military exercises and technology-sharing initiatives underscoring the security dimension of the partnership.

Beyond the summit with PM Ishiba, PM Modi will engage with leading Japanese industrialists and business leaders. These interactions are aimed at attracting investment into India’s key sectors, including digital technology, electric mobility, green energy, and advanced manufacturing. Economic cooperation remains a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship, with Japan being one of the largest investors in India and a key partner in flagship initiatives such as high-speed rail and smart city development.

This visit follows PM Modi’s last trip to Japan in May 2023. Since then, he and PM Ishiba have met informally on several occasions, most recently on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada, in June 2025, and at the ASEAN-India Summit in Vientiane, Laos, in 2024. However, the ongoing summit represents their first comprehensive bilateral engagement at the leadership level.

Following his engagements in Japan, PM Modi will depart for China to attend the 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). This will mark his first visit to China in seven years, and the first since the Galwan Valley clash in June 2020. The Prime Minister emphasized before leaving New Delhi that his back-to-back visits to Japan and China would not only advance India’s national interests but also contribute to building stronger regional cooperation and promoting global peace, security, and sustainable development.

With the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit, both nations reaffirm their longstanding friendship while charting new paths of cooperation. As Prime Minister Modi continues his diplomatic outreach in East Asia, the outcomes of this visit are expected to further consolidate India’s role as a key player in shaping the future of the Indo-Pacific region.