Foreign Secy Misri meets Japanese LDP MPs in New Delhi on bilateral ties
Synopsis
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri sat down with four Japanese LDP lawmakers — including heavyweight Taro Kono — in New Delhi on 21 September, after their delegation toured IISc, ISRO, and Bharat Electronics in Bengaluru. The visit, under MEA's Distinguished Visitors Programme, signals that India-Japan ties in AI, space, defence, and startups are moving well beyond diplomatic pleasantries.
Key Takeaways
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met a four-member Japanese LDP parliamentary delegation in New Delhi on 21 September 2026 .
The delegation was led by House of Representatives Member Taro Kono and included Karen Makishima , Kenji Nakanishi , and Sako Yamamoto .
The visit is part of the MEA's Distinguished Visitors Programme (DVP) , aimed at informing foreign lawmakers about India's latest developments.
Before New Delhi, the delegation visited IISc , ISRO , and Bharat Electronics Limited in Bengaluru .
Discussions covered AI , technology, space, defence, and startups — key pillars of the India-Japan Special Strategic Global Partnership .
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Monday, 21 September 2026, met with a visiting delegation of Japanese Members of Parliament from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in New Delhi, with discussions covering a broad range of political and economic issues of shared interest to both nations.
Who Was in the Room
The four-member Japanese parliamentary delegation was led by House of Representatives Member Taro Kono, visiting India under the Ministry of External Affairs' (MEA) Distinguished Visitors Programme (DVP). The other delegates were Karen Makishima, Kenji Nakanishi, and Sako Yamamoto. Japanese Ambassador to India Ono Keiichi was also present at the meeting.
What Misri Said
The Indian Embassy in Japan quoted Misri as saying: 'I am pleased to have had the opportunity today to exchange views with the members of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) parliamentary delegation to India, led by House of Representatives member Taro Kono, who is currently visiting India as part of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs' Distinguished Visitors' Programme. In the meeting, we exchanged opinions on a wide range of issues in the political and economic fields of interest to both India and Japan.'
Bengaluru Leg: Tech and Space Institutions
Before travelling to New Delhi, the Japanese lawmakers visited key scientific and defence establishments in Bengaluru, including the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). These visits formed part of the broader India-Japan Visit Programme, designed to expose Japanese MPs to the latest developments in India and facilitate direct engagement with stakeholders.
Strategic Significance
The Indian Embassy in Japan noted that cooperation between the two countries in the fields of AI, technology, space, defence, and startups is a cornerstone of the Special Strategic Global Partnership between India and Japan. 'This exchange reflects the depth of ongoing cooperation and the possibilities for the future,' the Embassy stated. This comes amid a period of deepening India-Japan ties, with both nations aligning on Indo-Pacific security frameworks and expanding technology and defence collaborations.
What the Programme Aims to Achieve
The DVP is a structured outreach mechanism through which India engages legislators and senior officials from partner countries, offering them on-ground exposure to Indian institutions and policy priorities. According to the Embassy, the programme aims to 'inform members of parliament about the latest developments in India, allow them to experience the local situation firsthand, and provide opportunities for direct interaction with relevant stakeholders.' The Bengaluru-to-New Delhi itinerary of this delegation — covering space, defence electronics, and diplomatic talks — underscores how India is positioning itself as a technology and strategic partner of choice for Japan.
Point of View
Bharat Electronics, and a Foreign Secretary-level sit-down — is not coincidental. India is clearly leveraging the DVP to accelerate Japanese political buy-in for deeper defence and space collaboration, areas where both governments want faster movement than bureaucratic channels typically allow. Taro Kono's presence is notable: he is one of Japan's most internationally networked politicians and has consistently advocated stronger Indo-Pacific alignments. What this visit signals, beyond the communiqué language, is that both sides are cultivating the next generation of political champions for the bilateral relationship — not just managing it at the official level.
NationPress
21 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri discuss with the Japanese MPs?
Vikram Misri and the Japanese LDP delegation exchanged views on a wide range of political and economic issues of shared interest to India and Japan. The discussions were held under the MEA's Distinguished Visitors Programme on 21 September 2026 in New Delhi.
Who led the Japanese parliamentary delegation to India?
The delegation was led by House of Representatives Member Taro Kono of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party. The other members were Karen Makishima, Kenji Nakanishi, and Sako Yamamoto.
What is the MEA Distinguished Visitors Programme?
It is a structured initiative by India's Ministry of External Affairs to invite senior foreign officials and legislators to India, allowing them to experience the local situation firsthand and interact with key stakeholders. The programme aims to build informed advocates for stronger bilateral ties.
Which institutions did the Japanese MPs visit in Bengaluru?
Before arriving in New Delhi, the delegation visited the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) in Bengaluru — reflecting the India-Japan focus on technology, space, and defence cooperation.
What is the India-Japan Special Strategic Global Partnership?
It is the highest tier of diplomatic relationship between India and Japan, anchored in shared interests across defence, technology, AI, space, and economic investment. Cooperation under this framework has expanded significantly in recent years, with both countries aligning on Indo-Pacific security.
