Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi convened for their inaugural bilateral engagement on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg on Sunday, injecting renewed vigour into the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership through focused discussions on defence collaboration, technological innovation, talent mobility, and the rapid expansion of two-way trade and investment flows.

The leaders jointly reaffirmed the deep civilizational connect and shared democratic values that underpin their relationship, while reiterating an unequivocal commitment to preserving a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region. Against the backdrop of evolving geopolitical challenges in Asia, both sides underscored the indispensable role their partnership plays in maintaining regional peace, deterrence, and economic resilience.

Building upon the substantial outcomes of the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit held earlier this year, Modi and Takaichi directed officials to expedite implementation across a sweeping array of sectors that include defence equipment and technology transfer, semiconductors, critical and rare-earth minerals, next-generation infrastructure, artificial intelligence, clean energy transitions, and people-to-people exchanges. Most notably, they endorsed an ambitious doubling of Japan’s private investment target into India—from the earlier JPY 5 trillion (2022–2026) to a new goal of JPY 10 trillion, equivalent to approximately USD 68 billion, over the coming years.

Also Read: PM Modi Holds Bilateral Talks With South African President Ramaphosa at G20 Summit

Prime Minister Takaichi conveyed Japan’s enthusiastic backing for India’s forthcoming Global AI Summit in February 2026, pledging active participation and technical collaboration in shaping global governance frameworks for artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. The two leaders also exchanged candid assessments of prevailing regional and global developments, aligning their strategic perspectives on maritime security, supply-chain resilience, and the imperative of countering coercive economic practices.

This landmark meeting, the first since Prime Minister Takaichi assumed office in October, solidifies the upward trajectory of India-Japan relations and positions the partnership as a cornerstone of stability in the Indo-Pacific. With enhanced defence interoperability, massive investment inflows, and joint leadership in frontier technologies, New Delhi and Tokyo are sending a clear message that their alliance will remain a pivotal force in fostering prosperity and upholding the rules-based international order for decades to come.

Also Read: PM Modi Warns “Resilience Can’t Be Built in Silos,” Pushes Unified Climate Strategy at G20