NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Japan’s newly appointed Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba, for their first bilateral talks on Thursday, exploring avenues for enhancing cooperation in infrastructure and defence.
“Had a very productive meeting with PM Ishiba. I’m pleased to have met him just a few days after he assumed office. Our discussions centred on boosting collaboration in infrastructure, connectivity, defence, and more, emphasising enhancing cultural ties,” PM Modi remarked.
The meeting occurred on the sidelines of the ASEAN-India Summit in Laos.
PM Modi congratulated PM Ishiba on his new role and highlighted India’s commitment to prioritizing its relationship with Japan, referring to it as a trusted friend and strategic partner.
The two leaders reaffirmed their dedication to further strengthening the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership, focusing on collaboration in various sectors, including trade, investment, semiconductors, security, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.
During the discussions, PM Modi noted that trade within ASEAN has reached $130 billion over the past decade, emphasizing the significance of regional cooperation.
“Both leaders acknowledged that their nations are indispensable partners for a peaceful, safe, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, renewing their commitment to work together to achieve this objective,” stated the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
The leaders are scheduled to meet again during the upcoming India-Japan Annual Summit.
