Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met with the former Japanese PMs Yoshihide Suga and Fumio Kishida during his visit to Tokyo, and discussed several dimensions of cooperation between the two nations. PM Modi stated that discussions during the meeting focused on building closer cooperation between the countries.
Yoshihide Suga served as the PM of Japan from 2020 to 2021, and Fumio Kishida’s tenure as PM lasted from 2021 to 2024. Both leaders belong to the ruling Liberal-Democratic Party of Japan.
In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi stated that he met former Japanese PM Fumio Kishida and discussed the progress in bilateral ties between the two countries.
“Had a wonderful meeting with the former Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Fumio Kishida. He has always been a great advocate of closer India–Japan relations. We discussed the progress in our bilateral partnership across trade, critical technologies and human resource mobility. We also discussed the vast potential in emerging areas such as technology and semiconductors,” he said.
In another post on X, he talked about his meeting with Former Prime Minister of Japan and Chairperson of the Japan-India Association Yoshihide Suga.
“I had a very good meeting with Mr. Yoshihide Suga, former Prime Minister of Japan and Chairperson of the Japan-India Association. We spoke about the many dimensions of India–Japan cooperation and how we can further deepen it. Our discussions covered how to build closer collaboration, including in technology, AI, trade, investment and beyond,” the PM said.
PM Modi arrived in Tokyo on Friday morning for a two-day official visit to attend the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi addressed the India-Japan economic forum, where he emphasised the growing investment of foreign companies in the Indian market and said that capital just does not grow in India, but it multiplies.
“JETRO (Japan External Trade Organisation) says that 80% of companies want to expand in India. Around 75% of companies are making profits. In India, capital does not just grow, it multiplies.” PM Modi said.
PM said that India’s approach of “reform, perform and transform” is behind this development, highlighting key schemes, such as GST and reforms for ease of doing business.
“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,” PM Modi said.
He noted that India and Japan have signed an agreement on Joint Credit Mechanism for cooperation on clean fuel and green future.
PM Modi is also scheduled to have a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba today, during which both leaders are expected to hold discussions on key topics to strengthen the ties between the two countries.
“I warmly welcome Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Japan. I look forward to discussing the strengthening of Japan-India relations in various fields with the Prime Minister,” the Japanese PM said in a post on X.
Following the Japan visit, PM Modi will travel to China from August 31 to September 1 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin.
(With agency inputs)