India and Japan added a new chapter to their partnership at Hyderabad House in Delhi, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between the two countries. During the meeting, PM Modi gave Takaichi a warm welcome, referring to her as his "younger sister."
Modi Calls Takaichi a Visionary and Popular Leader
PM Modi said he was delighted to welcome Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on her first visit to India for the India-Japan Annual Summit. He described her as Japan's first woman Prime Minister and called her a visionary and popular leader. Modi also noted that Takaichi hails from Japan's Nara Prefecture, which he described as an important centre of the shared Buddhist heritage between India and Japan.
Modi Recalls G7 Summit, Calls Trust the Biggest Strategic Asset
In his remarks, PM Modi referred back to the G7 Summit held a few days earlier, where he had said that in today's environment of global turmoil, mutual trust is the biggest strategic asset any country can have. He said he was proud that the India-Japan partnership stands up to that test. Modi pointed out that India and Japan are today among the world's largest economies, and that a free, prosperous and rules-based Indo-Pacific remains a shared priority for both nations.
Joint Statement on AI, First Defence Co-Development Pact
PM Modi said that both he and Prime Minister Takaichi believe technology partnership will become the strongest pillar of cooperation between the two countries going forward. Carrying that vision forward, the two sides issued a joint statement on Artificial Intelligence. According to Modi, the coming together of Japan's precision technology and India's software capability will give fresh speed and strength to global AI development. In a significant step in the defence sector, India and Japan also signed an agreement for their first co-development project.
Talks Cover Semiconductors, Critical Minerals and Supply Chains
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on social media that the summit was aimed at giving fresh momentum to India-Japan relations built on trust, shared values and strategic partnership. Both leaders emphasised strengthening the India-Japan economic partnership. The talks specifically covered semiconductors, critical minerals, the pharmaceutical industry, AI, emerging technologies, and the development of robust supply chains.
Takaichi on a Three-Day Visit, to Attend 16th Annual Summit
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is on a three-day official visit to India from July 1 to July 3. During the visit, she will also take part in the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit, where the two countries will review all aspects of their bilateral relationship and discuss regional and global issues. According to the External Affairs Ministry, the visit is aimed at further strengthening strategic, economic, technological and security cooperation between the two countries.
Business Forum Participation, 75 Years of Ties in 2027
During her India visit, Takaichi will also participate in the India-Japan Business Forum, where representatives from industry and government on both sides will discuss ways to boost investment, trade and industrial cooperation. India-Japan ties have steadily strengthened over the past several years. In 2014, the relationship between the two countries was elevated to the status of a Special Strategic and Global Partnership, and in 2027 the two nations will mark 75 years of diplomatic relations.
Modi's Tokyo Visit Last Year
PM Modi had travelled to Tokyo in August 2025 to attend the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit. The annual summit between the two countries is regarded as the most important platform for advancing their bilateral strategic partnership.
