Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Wednesday said that collaboration with India has become increasingly important amid growing uncertainty in the international landscape, as she departed for New Delhi to attend the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit.
Speaking at an informal press conference ahead of her visit, Takaichi said she looked forward to advancing concrete cooperation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi across key strategic and economic areas. She is scheduled to arrive in India later on Wednesday and hold bilateral talks with PM Modi on Thursday.
“I will visit India shortly. Amid growing uncertainty in the international situation, the importance of collaboration with India, which shares fundamental values and strategic interests, is only increasing,” she said.
The Japanese Prime Minister said her discussions with PM Modi would focus on three key priorities: deepening the Japan-India strategic partnership, strengthening cooperation in economic security, and promoting greater collaboration between businesses of both countries to boost investment and innovation.
“In this context, through this visit, taking into account the current international situation, I intend to advance concrete cooperation with Prime Minister Modi, centering on three points: deepening the strategic cooperative relationship between Japan and India, promoting cooperation in economic security, and fostering collaboration between companies of both countries toward investment and innovation,” she said.
Highlighting the economic dimension of the visit, Takaichi said the Japan-India Economic Forum would be held alongside the summit with the participation of more than 150 representatives from Japan’s business community.
“On the occasion of this visit to India, we plan to hold the Japan-India Economic Forum with the participation of more than 150 individuals from Japan’s business community. By uniting government and private sectors, we aim to broaden the scope of Japan-India cooperation and realize a strong economy,” she said.
Emphasising the strategic significance of the bilateral partnership, Takaichi said both India and Japan, as major democratic nations in Asia, share the responsibility of ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
“India, like Japan, as a major democratic country in Asia, bears responsibility for achieving peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. In that regard, I intend to firmly discuss with Prime Minister Modi efforts toward realizing a ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’ (FOIP), including the framework of Japan, the United States, Australia, and India,” she said.
Takaichi also said the visit, being undertaken at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi, would provide an opportunity to further strengthen the personal rapport between the two leaders.
“Finally, since this visit is realized at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi, I see it as an opportunity to further deepen the personal trust relationship with Prime Minister Modi,” she said.
(With ANI inputs)
