PM Modi Lands in Tokyo for Key Asia Visit
PM Modi’s visit focuses on trade, tech, and diplomacy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Tokyo on Friday for a pivotal four-day visit to Japan and China, aimed at bolstering trade, investment, and diplomatic ties amid strained India-US relations due to President Donald Trump’s tariff policies. The trip, which began with a warm welcome from the Indian diaspora in Tokyo, underscores India’s strategic push to deepen economic and technological partnerships with two of Asia’s economic powerhouses.
In Japan, Modi will engage in the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on August 29-30, marking his eighth visit to Japan and his first bilateral summit with Ishiba. The leaders are expected to review the Special Strategic and Global Partnership, which has flourished over the past 11 years, focusing on defense, security, trade, and emerging technologies like AI and semiconductors. “We aim to give new wings to our collaboration, expanding economic and investment ties,” Modi said in his departure statement.
Japan is poised to pledge a decade-long investment of 10 trillion yen ($68 billion) in India, doubling its previous target, with agreements set to enhance cooperation in defense and technology. The duo will also travel to Sendai city on a high-speed train to visit a semiconductor facility, highlighting tech collaboration.
On August 31, Modi will head to Tianjin, China, to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, his first visit to China in seven years since the 2020 Ladakh border clash strained bilateral ties. Talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to focus on normalizing relations, resuming direct flights, and easing trade barriers, including exports of fertilizers and rare earth minerals to India.
Modi emphasized India’s active role in the SCO, noting its contributions to innovation, health, and cultural exchanges during its 2022-23 presidency. He also looks forward to meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin and other leaders on the summit’s sidelines.
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The visit comes at a critical juncture, with India navigating Trump’s steep tariffs on its exports, prompting a pivot toward stronger Asian partnerships. Japan, India’s fifth-largest source of foreign direct investment with $43.2 billion as of December 2024, remains a key economic ally, with bilateral trade reaching $21 billion in the first nine months of 2024-25.
Modi’s engagements, including a business leaders’ forum in Japan, aim to attract further investments from companies like Suzuki Motor, which has committed $8 billion. The trip is expected to yield multiple Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), reinforcing India’s commitment to regional stability and a free Indo-Pacific amid China’s growing regional influence.
Modi expressed confidence that the visit will advance India’s national interests and contribute to global peace and sustainable development. “Our civilizational bonds with Japan and constructive role in the SCO will strengthen regional cooperation,” he stated.
As India balances its strategic ties with Japan, China, and Russia, Modi’s diplomatic maneuvering is set to shape India’s role in a rapidly evolving global order.
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