New Delhi: Boosting trade and investment ties with Japan and steps to further normalise relations with China are expected to be the main focus of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s four-day visit to the two countries beginning Friday.
Modi’s visit to the two leading economic powerhouses comes amid a downturn in India-US relations over President Donald Trump’s policies on trade and tariffs.
The prime minister, shortly before leaving for Japan on Thursday night, exuded confidence that his two-nation trip would further national interests and priorities.
“I am confident that my visits to Japan and China would further our national interests and priorities, and contribute to building fruitful cooperation in advancing regional and global peace, security, and sustainable development,” he said in a departure statement.
The highlight of Modi’s August 29-30 visit to Japan will be his annual summit talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
The talks, to be held on the first day of his trip, is expected to see Japan pledging to double its investment target in India and the two sides are likely to unveil a raft of agreements to expand cooperation in a range of areas, including defence and technology.
From Japan, Modi will travel to the Chinese city of Tianjin for a two-day visit from August 31.
On Sunday, the prime minister is set to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping that is expected to focus on further steps to normalise the bilateral ties that came under severe strain following the eastern Ladakh border row.
It will be Modi’s first standalone visit to Japan in nearly seven years.
On his visit to Japan, the prime minister said both sides would focus on shaping the “next phase in our Special Strategic and Global Partnership”, which he said has made steady and significant progress over the past 11 years.
“We would endeavour to give new wings to our collaboration, expand the scope and ambition of our economic and investment ties, and advance cooperation in new and emerging technologies, including AI and semiconductors,” he said.
On the second day of his trip, Modi and Ishiba are likely to travel to Sendai city on the high-speed train to visit a semiconductor facility.
In the second leg of the visit, Prime Minister Modi will travel to the Chinese city of Tianjin to attend the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on August 31 and September 1.
“I also look forward to meeting President Xi Jinping, President (Vladimir) Putin, and other leaders on the sidelines of the summit,” the prime minister said.
Modi also touched upon New Delhi’s engagement with the SCO and said India is an “active and constructive” member of the grouping.
“During our presidency, we have introduced new ideas and initiated collaboration in the fields of innovation, health and cultural exchanges,” Modi said.
“India remains committed to working with the SCO members to address shared challenges and deepen regional cooperation,” he said.
