Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to arrive in Tokyo on August 29 for a two-day visit. He will attend the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit alongside Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. “This will be PM Modi’s first annual summit with his Japanese counterpart, and is first standalone visit to Japan in nearly seven years. He last visited for the annual summit in 2018,” Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said ahead of the trip.
After Japan, PM Modi will travel to China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Quad Cooperation Takes Center Stage
The summit will emphasize the Quad group, which includes India, Japan, Australia, and the United States. Misri explained, “The Quad is indeed an important platform for working on and promoting peace, stability, prosperity, and development in the Indo-Pacific region.” He added that cooperation on health, critical and emerging technologies, resilient supply chains, and infrastructure will be priorities.
The Quad talks gain extra significance as tensions have risen due to the US imposing a 50% tariff on Indian goods.
Strengthening Defence Ties
PM Modi will also focus on deepening defence collaboration with Japan. Misri said, “Defence ties with Japan have emerged as an important pillar of cooperation between the two countries in recent years.” He noted that the Indian Navy and Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force are exploring ship maintenance cooperation in India.
Furthermore, India and Japan are discussing upgrades to the 2008 Declaration on Security Cooperation. The two countries previously signed a memorandum to co-develop the Unicorn mast for Indian Navy ships, enhancing stealth capabilities.
Bullet Trains and Business Expansion
During his visit, PM Modi will tour the Tokyo Electron Factory and the Tohoku Shinkansen plant in Sendai, where bullet train coaches are made. The leaders will discuss Tokyo’s participation in India’s Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor. The E10 bullet trains, which reach speeds of 320 km/h, will feature earthquake-resistant safety systems and future driverless operation.
Japan will fund Rs 88,000 crore (81% of the total Rs 1,08,000 crore project cost) through JICA. The Indian government and the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat will provide the remaining funds.
Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba will also announce a ¥10 trillion ($68 billion) investment plan to strengthen India-Japan business ties across sectors such as mobility, medicine, AI, and semiconductors. This initiative will employ skilled Indian workers and support startups in emerging technologies.
Focus on Semiconductors and AI
On the second day, PM Modi will visit Tokyo Electron, a chip-making equipment leader. India seeks to leverage Japan’s expertise in semiconductors, related materials, and equipment. Ishiba will also announce initiatives to attract more Indian talent to Japan. So far, 25,000 Indians have joined Japan’s workforce or enrolled in training programs.
Next Stop: China for SCO Summit
Following Japan, PM Modi will head to Tianjin, China, for the SCO Summit. He is expected to hold bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and may meet Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss regional and global issues.