PM Modi’s Japan Visit: Boosting Trade, Technology, and Cultural Ties While Strengthening Indo-Pacific Cooperation
Prime Minister Modi states that his trip to Japan will be a chance to deepen the cultural and civilizational links between the two nations.
Aadrika Tayal 
New Delhi (India) August 29: Prime Minister Narendra Modi gives a speech at the India-Japan Joint Economic Forum. This is his first independent visit to Japan in almost seven years. He starts the speech by saying, "Namaste, Konnichiwa, Japan".
Prime Minister Modi is going to promote India's national interests and improve bilateral relations. He will also create momentum for more extensive regional and international collaboration during the trip.
India as a Growing Economic Power
The prime minister aims to present India as a secure and promising place to invest.
He says, "The world is not just watching India, it is counting on India. Japan has always been an important partner in India's development journey. From metro rail to manufacturing, semiconductors to startups. Japanese companies have invested over USD 40 billion in India".
He also adds, "Today, India has political stability, economic stability, transparency in policy, and predictability. Today, India is the fastest-growing major economy in the world. And, very soon, it is going to become the third-largest economy in the world,”
Modi adds that this achievement is the result of India's "reform, perform, and transform" strategy. He also stresses on important programs like the GST and business-friendly reforms.
He says, “Our approach of reform, perform and transform is behind this change. In 2017, we started One Nation One Tax; now we are bringing new reforms to this. We have given importance to ease of doing business. We have given single-window approval for businesses”.
Strategic and Regional Cooperation
India and Japan will discuss "plurilateral and multilateral" frameworks like the Quad. They are crucial to maintain a peaceful and stable Indo-Pacific region.
According to Indian envoy to Japan Sibi George, the two leaders will discuss the current geopolitical and geoeconomic environment. This is in the context of US President Donald Trump's ongoing trade war. The talks will extend above the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs).
Expanding Trade, Technology, and Investment
New Delhi is looking to strengthen economic ties with Tokyo. Modi will examine new trade, technological, and investment opportunities. This is because India and the US face growing trade tensions.
The visit also highlights the strategic integration of two major Asian governments. This collaboration extends beyond economics to include global governance, regional security and links between civilizations.
This trip is Modi's first bilateral summit with Ishiba. This is also his first independent trip to Japan in almost seven years. Additionally, this is Modi's ninth trip to Japan since taking office in 2014.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will join leaders of the Indian and Japanese industries for a business gathering today from 10.30 to 11.10 am. This is with the goal of strengthening trade, investment, and technological connections between the two nations. He is expected to make collaborations for the production of the next-generation E10 Shinkansen bullet trains in India during his visit.
After his trip to Japan, Modi will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's (SCO) annual summit in Tianjin, China. This will take place from August 31 to September 1. He is anticipated to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the summit.
