Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Tokyo on Thursday for a two-day official visit, his first standalone trip to Japan in nearly seven years. This visit also marks his first annual summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. The focus: advancing India’s national interests, deepening bilateral cooperation, and reinforcing regional stability.
In a statement before departure, Modi said the two countries would work to shape the “next phase” of their Special Strategic and Global Partnership, a framework that has steadily grown over the past 11 years. He emphasized expanding economic ties, boosting investments, and forging stronger collaboration in emerging sectors like artificial intelligence and semiconductors.
Beyond the summit, Modi’s agenda in Japan includes meetings with senior political leaders, interactions with the Indian diaspora, and a business leaders’ forum that brings together top Japanese and Indian industry representatives. Trade and investment remain central: bilateral trade touched USD 21 billion in the first nine months of 2024-25, while Japan continues to be one of India’s most reliable partners, ranking as its fifth-largest source of foreign direct investment. By December 2024, cumulative Japanese FDI in India had reached USD 43.2 billion.
This visit is significant for both leaders. For Modi, it is his eighth trip to Japan since 2014, but the first since 2018 that is purely bilateral. For Ishiba, it offers an opportunity to re-energize Japan’s role in India’s growth story while consolidating regional partnerships in a shifting global order.
Next Stop: China and the SCO Summit
Following Japan, Modi will head to Tianjin, China, from August 31 to September 1 for the annual Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. There, he is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and other regional leaders.
“India is an active and constructive member of SCO,” Modi said, pointing to initiatives during India’s presidency in areas such as innovation, healthcare, and cultural exchanges.
The dual visits—to Japan and then China—reflect New Delhi’s balancing act: strengthening ties with a democratic ally in East Asia, while also engaging key powers in a multilateral setting. Modi summed it up:
“I am confident that my visits would advance India’s national priorities and contribute to regional and global peace, security, and sustainable development.”
