Modi, Fumio Kishida hold bilateral talks

Before heading for the talks, the Japanese Prime Minister, who arrived early on Monday on a two-day official visit, visited Rajghat and offered floral tributes. He also wrote in Japanese in the Visitor’s Book.

MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi in tweets said that the talks are an opportunity for the two sides to review progress in the bilateral ties and further expand the India-Japan Partnership for a peaceful, stable and prosperous post-COVID world.

"PM @narendramodi welcomed PM @kishida230 of Japan ahead of bilateral delegation level talks.

"An opportunity for leaders to review progress in our bilateral ties and further expand the India-Japan Partnership for a peaceful, stable and prosperous post-COVID world.

"PM Kishida’s visit comes at significant time with Japan holding the Presidency of @G7 and India of @G20org.

"Leaders will also use this opportunity to discuss how the two groupings can synergise their efforts and work together on critical global issues," he tweeted.

The Japanese PM said on Sunday that he will hold talks with PM Modi to exchange views on the role that their two nations should play in resolving the rising international challenges, and also strengthen the bilateral Special Strategic Global Partnership.

In tweets, PM Kishida also said that he will announce a new plan on Free and Open Indo-Pacific, and that Japan will present “concrete ideas” about the future of the Free and Open Indo-Pacific during the visit.

“I will visit India and meet with Prime Minister Modi @narendramodi. This year, Japan will chair the G7 and India will chair the G20. I would like to exchange views on the role that our two countries should play in resolving the mountain of international challenges, and to further strengthen our "Special Strategic Global Partnership."

“In addition, during my stay in India, I will announce a new plan on Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP). We will present concrete ideas about the future of FOIP at this historical turning point,” he tweeted.

The meeting between the two leaders will give the two sides an opportunity to review the progress made in their bilateral ties since the last Summit meeting held in March 2022.

The meeting is being held at a significant time when India and Japan are holding the Presidencies of the G20 and G7, respectively. This visit therefore gives the two sides an opportunity to cooperate and discuss on how G20 and G7 can work together on converging our priorities on critical global issues including food and health security, energy transitions and economic security.

The Japanese PM is expected to invite Prime Minister Modi to attend the G7 summit being held in May in Hiroshima.

India and Japan share ‘Special Strategic and Global Partnership’. India-Japan relations were elevated to ‘Global Partnership’ in 2000, ‘Strategic and Global Partnership’ in 2006, and ‘Special Strategic and Global Partnership’ in 2014.

Last year, Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Kishida met three times – when the Japanese PM visited India for the 14th Annual Summit in March; and when PM Modi visited Tokyo in May for the Quad Summit, and again in September when he attended the state funeral of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

The Japanese PM is to deliver the 41st Sapru House Lecture at the Sushma Swaraj Bhawan on Monday afternoon during which he is set to unveil his government’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific strategy.