Bullet train & beyond: PM Modi's first visit to Japan in 7 years; what to expect?

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday arrived in Japan for his two-day visit to hold summit talks with his Japanese counterpart Shigeru Ishiba .

"Landed in Tokyo. As India and Japan continue to strengthen their developmental cooperation, I look forward to engaging with PM Ishiba and others during this visit, thus providing an opportunity to deepen existing partnerships and explore new avenues of collaboration," PM Modi wrote on X.

PM Modi received a warm and vibrant welcome from members of the Indian diaspora in Tokyo, who greeted him with traditional cultural performances and enthusiastic cheers.

This is prime minister's eighth visit to Japan after taking office in 2014 and his first annual summit with PM Ishiba.

W hat's on agenda

• The visit comes at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. During the summit, PM Modi will hold in-depth talks with his Japanese counterpart, reviewing progress across multiple domains and exchanging views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.
• The two sides will review cooperation to promote a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
• According to foreign secretary Vikram Misri, Quad cooperation will be discussed when Modi meets his Japan.
• The two sides will look to boost defence and security cooperation with focus on defence exercises and technology transfer, while also launching an economic security initiative.
• During the visit, PM Modi is also likely to travel in a bullet train from Tokyo to Sendai where he’s expected to visit a semiconductor facility.
• Japan is also hoping that India and the US will be able to resolve their differences in time for a successful Quad summit later this year.

From Japan, Modi will travel to Tianjin, China, at the invitation of President Xi Jinping to participate in the SCO Summit.

Reiterating India’s role as an “active and constructive member” of the grouping, he said India had, during its presidency, introduced new initiatives in innovation, health and cultural exchanges.

"I also look forward to meeting President Xi Jinping, President Putin and other leaders on the sidelines of the Summit,” PM Modi's departure statement read. It added that India remains committed to working with SCO members to tackle shared challenges and expand regional cooperation.