PM Modi: Japan key partner in India’s development
At the India-Japan Joint Economic Forum, PM Narendra Modi highlighted that India serves as a vital springboard for Japanese businesses, offering them a strategic gateway to expand into the Global South, fostering stronger economic cooperation and mutual growth.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (August 29, 2025) began his two-day visit to Japan, landing in Tokyo to a warm reception that underlined the deep ties between the two nations. His trip comes at a crucial time, as both India and Japan look to further strengthen their partnership across sectors ranging from infrastructure to high technology, and from security to people-to-people exchanges.
The highlight of the visit will be the much-anticipated 15th Annual India-Japan Summit with his Japanese counterpart, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. The summit, delayed due to scheduling and global challenges, is expected to inject new momentum into the bilateral ties. The two leaders are set to take significant steps forward, including upgrading the 2008 Declaration on Security Cooperation. This is expected to include discussions on defence hardware purchases and joint initiatives to ensure both nations are better prepared for emerging regional and global security challenges.
A major focus of the summit will be economic security. Both countries are expected to launch a new initiative aimed at building resilient and trusted supply chains, particularly in critical areas such as rare earths, critical minerals, Artificial Intelligence, and advanced technology. These areas have become increasingly important given the volatility of global supply systems, and both sides see collaboration as a way to secure future growth while reducing dependence on single sources.
Japan, already one of India’s most trusted investors and partners, is also likely to significantly raise its investment targets. Sources indicate that the target may be revised upward to nearly \$68 billion, covering a wide range of sectors from high-speed rail projects to digital technology and clean energy. This expansion reflects both Japan’s confidence in India’s growth story and India’s potential as a bridge to the Global South, something PM Modi emphasized strongly during his economic forum address.
The summit will not only produce a joint statement but will also witness the release of the “2035 Vision Statement.” This ambitious document will chart out the future course of India-Japan relations over the next decade, replacing and upgrading the “2025 Vision Statement” that was announced ten years ago by PM Modi and then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The new vision is expected to align with the rapidly changing geopolitical landscape, while also strengthening the foundations laid by previous leaders.
The timing of the meeting carries symbolic significance as well. Over these two decades, the annual summit mechanism has become a cornerstone of the partnership, ensuring continuity and consistency in dialogue at the highest levels.
Beyond official agreements and grand vision statements, the India-Japan relationship has always drawn its strength from mutual respect, cultural bonds, and shared democratic values. From Japan’s investment in India’s infrastructure, including the transformative Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor, to India’s support for Japan in regional forums, both countries have shown that their cooperation is not transactional but rooted in long-term trust.
Their decisions will not only shape the trajectory of bilateral relations but also have a wider impact on the Indo-Pacific region, where both India and Japan play central roles in ensuring stability, prosperity, and security.
This visit, therefore, is more than a diplomatic engagement—it is another milestone in a partnership that continues to grow stronger with every passing year.