India And Japan Hold Talks On People-To-People Exchanges And Economic Security

India and Japan on Monday held detailed discussions in Tokyo aimed at strengthening people-to-people exchanges and expanding cooperation across multiple areas of shared interest. The meeting took place between India’s Ambassador to Japan Nagma Mallick and Japan’s Minister of Justice Hiroshi Hiraguchi, reflecting continued high-level diplomatic engagement between the two countries. Both sides reviewed ongoing initiatives designed to deepen cultural, educational, and professional linkages. They also exchanged views on ways to further enhance mutual understanding between their citizens. The discussions were held in the context of strengthening the broader India–Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership.

During the meeting, the focus remained on advancing people-to-people exchanges under structured frameworks, including the India-Japan Action Plan on Human Resource Exchange and Cooperation. This plan aims to promote skill development, academic mobility, and training opportunities for students and professionals in both countries. The two sides discussed how such initiatives could be expanded to meet growing demand for skilled talent in sectors like technology, manufacturing, and services. Emphasis was also placed on improving institutional partnerships between universities and training centres. The embassy noted the importance of sustained engagement in building long-term human capital linkages.

The engagement in Tokyo comes amid a wider series of India–Japan diplomatic interactions on economic and strategic issues. On May 11, officials from both countries held the second round of the Economic Security Dialogue in New Delhi, where they agreed to deepen cooperation in strategic industrial sectors. The discussions were co-chaired by India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Japan’s Vice Foreign Minister Takehiro Funakoshi, and Japan’s Vice Minister for International Affairs at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Takehiko Matsuo. Both sides reiterated the importance of strengthening supply chain resilience amid global economic uncertainties.

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Officials also reviewed key economic security challenges such as economic coercion, non-market policies, and production overcapacity, which continue to affect global trade stability. They discussed recommendations raised in the Japan-India Private Sector Economic Security Dialogue and agreed to deepen cooperation in priority sectors including semiconductors, critical minerals, information and communication technology, clean energy, and pharmaceuticals. These sectors were previously identified in the Japan-India Joint Statement and are considered central to long-term economic resilience. Both countries also committed to incorporating inputs from industry stakeholders to ensure practical and effective cooperation.

In addition, the Japan-India Foreign Vice-Ministers’ Dialogue covered regional developments in the Indo-Pacific and the Middle East, including the evolving situation in Iran. The two sides exchanged views on ensuring energy security and maintaining stable supplies of critical resources in light of ongoing geopolitical tensions. They also emphasized the need to strengthen supply chain resilience for essential goods and maintain open communication channels during crises.

The discussions reaffirmed commitment to the “Japan-India Joint Vision for the Next Decade,” which aims to expand investment, innovation, and strategic economic cooperation with active participation from both public and private sectors.

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