New Delhi, Mar 20 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that during his talks with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida the two sides exchanged views on defence and security, technology, trade, health and digital cooperation as well as on stable and reliable supply chains of semi-conductors and other critical technology.
In his press statement after holding delegation level talks with the Japanese leader, PM Modi said that he has seen Prime Minister Kishida’s positivity and commitment to the bilateral relationship, and that is the reason why this visit will be very useful is keeping up the momentum in ties.
PM Modi said that with India holding the G20 presidency this year, and Japan the G7 presidency and keeping their priorities and interests in mind, the visit is best timed to coordinate their efforts.
He said he had explained to PM Kishida India’s G20 priorities and that giving voice to the Global South is India’s priority.
“The India-Japan bilateral Special Strategic Global Partnership is based on the rule of law, and it is important for both sides to strengthen it, and it will help boost peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region,” he emphasised.
He also said that he had accepted the invite from PM Kishida to attend the G7 leaders’ summit being hosted in Hiroshima in May this year.
PM Modi said that there has been good progress with regard to the five trillion yen (Rs 3,20,000 crore) investment announced by PM Kishida during his last visit in May 2022.
Referring to India-Japan Industrial Competitiveness Partnership launched between the two sides in December 2019 to strengthen India's industrial competitiveness, PM Modi said that thanks to it competitiveness is being increased in the logistics, food processing, machinery, SMEs sectors. “We expressed happiness on the activities,” he added.
He also said the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high speed rail corridor project using Japan's Shinkansen technology is progressing well.
PM Modi said that 2023 is the India-Japan Tourism Exchange Year, and under it they have chosen the theme Connecting the Himalayas with Mt Fuji in Japan.
“PM Kishida has invited me to attend the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Hiroshima. A few months later we will host the G20 Summit and I will get the opportunity to invite him to India again. With our exchanges continuing this way, India-Japan relations are sure to touch newer heights.”
Japanese PM Kishida in his statement, said that their views concurred on the G20 and G7 priorities and they will cooperate for the success of both summits.
He said the two sides held wide-ranging talks, including on holding of the 2+2 and on the joint defence exercises, and welcomed the concrete progress.
PM Kishida said their economic cooperation continues to grow, which will add to the development of India and provide significant opportunities to Japan.
He said during the working lunch with PM Modi the two sides will hold another round of productive discussions on the Indo-Pacific situation, and that he will unveil his new plan for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific at the ICWA talk in the evening.
UNI RN