“One of the aspects which connects India and Japan is the teachings of Lord Buddha”. – N. Modi
Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister of Japan, is visiting India from March 19 through March 22.
The Summit Meeting between visiting Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was held today in New Delhi to discuss various key issues in the international community and confirm the cooperation between the G7 and G20 as Japan holds the G7 Presidency and India holds the G20 Presidency. They also exchanged views regarding the deepening of the “Japan-India Special Strategic and Global Partnership” and efforts toward the realization of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific.”
This year India is chairing the G20, and Japan is chairing the G7. And therefore, this is the perfect opportunity to work together on our respective priorities and interests. PM Modi explained in detail to Prime Minister Kishida about the priorities of India’s G20 Presidency. Giving voice to the priorities of Global South is an important pillar of our G20 Presidency. India has taken this initiative because both India and Japan are a culture that believe in “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”, and in taking everyone along.
The India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership is based on shared democratic values, and respect for the rule of law in the international arena. Strengthening this partnership is not only important for both our countries, but it also promotes peace, prosperity and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. In the discussion today, both countries reviewed the progress made in bilateral relations. Both sides exchanged views on defence equipment and technology collaboration, trade, health, and digital partnership. Both sides also had a fruitful discussion on the importance of reliable supply chains in semiconductor and other critical technologies. Last year, India and Japan had set a target of Japanese investment of 5 trillion yen in India in the next 5 years, that is, three lakh twenty thousand crore rupees. There is good progress in this direction.
In 2019, both countries had set up the India-Japan Industrial Competitiveness Partnership. Under this, competitiveness of Indian industry is increasing in areas such as logistics, food processing, MSME, textiles, machinery and steel. Both sides also expressed happiness over the activeness of this partnership. Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail project is progressing well. Both countries are celebrating 2023 as the Year of the Tourism Exchange for which the chosen theme is “Connecting Himalayas with Mount Fuji”.
Japanese Prime Minister Kishida extended an invitation to Indian PM for attending the G7 Leaders’ Summit to be held in Hiroshima in the month of May this year.
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