Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, 3 July 2025, held the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in New Delhi, covering the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation and exchanging views on pressing regional and global issues. The summit marks Takaichi's first official visit to India since assuming office.

Ceremonial Welcome and Arrival

Takaichi arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday evening, kicking off a three-day official visit. She was received by Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh upon arrival and was accorded a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described the visit as 'an important step in taking forward the Special Strategic and Global Partnership between India and Japan.'

Three Priority Areas on the Table

Ahead of her departure from Tokyo, Takaichi had outlined three key areas she intended to advance during the visit. 'Through this visit, I hope to advance concrete cooperation with Prime Minister Modi in three key areas: deepening the Japan-India strategic partnership in light of the current international situation; promoting cooperation in economic security; and strengthening collaboration between businesses of our two countries in investment and innovation,' she told reporters in Tokyo on Wednesday.

Takaichi also flagged the Japan-India Joint Economic Forum, held alongside the summit, which saw participation from representatives of more than 150 Japanese companies and business organisations. 'Working together with the private sector, I hope to broaden the scope of Japan-India cooperation and realise a strong economy,' she added.

Indo-Pacific and Quad Framework

A central theme of the summit is the two nations' shared commitment to a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP). Takaichi stated that India and Japan, as two of Asia's leading democracies, share responsibility for maintaining peace and stability in the region. 'I look forward to having thorough discussions with Prime Minister Modi on efforts to realise a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, including cooperation through the Quad framework,' she said. This comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions across the Indo-Pacific, lending the bilateral dialogue added strategic weight.

People-to-People Ties and Skill Mobility

Japan's Ambassador to India, Ono Keiichi, underscored the people-to-people dimension of the visit at the Japan Session of the Human Resource Mobility Forum, hosted by the MEA. 'PM Takaichi's visit will be a great opportunity to advance people-to-people exchanges, the cornerstone for strengthening our deep and strategic ties,' the envoy posted on X. The MEA separately highlighted emerging pathways for skill-based mobility collaboration between the two countries as a key outcome of the forum.

What Comes Next

The outcomes of the summit — including any joint statements, investment commitments, or new bilateral frameworks — are expected to be announced later on Thursday. With over 150 Japanese firms represented at the business forum and economic security high on the agenda, concrete deliverables on trade and technology cooperation are widely anticipated. The summit is the most significant India-Japan engagement since Takaichi took office and sets the tone for bilateral ties through the remainder of 2025.