Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a significant bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Apulia, Italy. A central topic of discussion was the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail project, with Japan committing to a substantial 5 trillion yen investment in India.
Highlighting the robust relations between India and Japan, the Prime Minister’s Office announced on X, “Boosting India-Japan relations! PM @narendramodi held a productive bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister @kishida230 in Italy on the sidelines of the G7 Summit.” This meeting underscores the strong and strategic partnership between the two nations, aiming to enhance cooperation in various sectors.
The two leaders emphasized the importance of strengthening business, people-to-people (P2P), and government-to-government (G2G) relations, along with exploring new trade opportunities. “Their discussion involved giving impetus to key strategic sectors like defence and high-speed rail infrastructure, along with strengthening B2B, P2P, and G2G relations and avenues of trade,” the PMO elaborated on X.
According to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs, PM Modi expressed his gratitude to PM Kishida for his congratulatory message on Modi’s third consecutive term in office. Modi reaffirmed that Japan will continue to be a priority in India’s foreign policy. The meeting also celebrated the 10th anniversary of the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership, with both leaders expressing satisfaction over the progress made so far.
“India and Japan are collaborating on several important areas, including the landmark Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail project that will usher in the next stage in mobility in India, the targeted 5 trillion yen worth of Japanese investment in India in the 2022-2027 period, and the India-Japan Industrial Competitiveness Partnership aimed at the transformation of our manufacturing cooperation,” the Ministry’s statement highlighted.
The meeting provided an opportunity for the leaders to review ongoing cooperative projects and look forward to further discussions at the next India-Japan annual summit. PM Modi, in a post on X, expressed his delight at meeting PM Kishida, emphasizing the importance of strong India-Japan ties for a peaceful, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. “It was a delight to meet PM Kishida on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Italy. Strong ties between India and Japan are important for a peaceful, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Our nations look forward to working together in defence, technology, semiconductors, clean energy, and digital technology. We also wish to advance ties in infrastructure and cultural linkages,” Modi posted on X.
Additionally, PM Modi shared his positive interactions with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on X, noting the productivity of their meeting. “Today’s interaction with Chancellor Scholz was very productive. The India-Germany Strategic Partnership can play a major role in furthering global growth which is inclusive and sustainable,” Modi stated, highlighting the importance of this bilateral relationship.
These discussions at the G7 Summit illustrate India’s commitment to strengthening international partnerships and advancing its strategic interests through collaborative projects and mutual investments. The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail project, backed by Japanese investment, is poised to be a cornerstone of this collaboration, setting the stage for enhanced connectivity and economic growth in India.
Read more latest news on R9 News
