Prime Minister Modi In Japan: Quad, Defence Cooperation, Investment And Bullet Train Talks On Agenda

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Japan on Friday (29 August) to attend the annual summit with his Japanese counterpart, which is expected to strengthen bilateral economic and strategic cooperation, NDTV reported.

The visit comes against the backdrop of ongoing trade frictions with the United States over steep 50 per cent tariffs imposed by Trump on India.

The two-day visit, among other things, will focus on Quad.

As part of the visit, Prime Minister Modi will hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba during the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit.

According to Nikkei Asia, Japan plans to invest 10 trillion yen (approximately $68 billion) over the next decade to strengthen trade and business with India.

The investment will span across key sectors such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, environmental solutions, and healthcare.

In a post on X ahead of his visit, PM Modi said, “We would endeavor to give new wings to our collaboration, expand scope and ambition of our economic and investment ties, and advance cooperation in new and emerging technologies, including AI and Semiconductors.”

The Ministry of External Affairs noted that a key agenda item would be the Quad, the Indo-Pacific grouping seen as a counterbalance to China’s expanding influence and a framework to offer partner nations alternative development support.

Relations within the Quad bloc, comprising India, Japan, Australia and US, have been strained after Trump imposed a 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods.

In a development ahead of PM Modi’s visit, Japan’s trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa abruptly cancelled his scheduled trip to the United States.

The decision could postpone the finalisation of a $550 billion investment package Japan had proposed to Washington in hopes of easing tariff pressures.

Trump had claimed that the package was "our money to invest, as we like" and said that the US would retain 90 per cent of the profits.

However, Japanese officials differed and stressed that the investment would be subject to mutual benefits.

During the visit, Prime Minister Modi will tour Tokyo’s Electron Factory and the Tohoku Shinkansen plant in Sendai, which manufactures bullet train coaches.

He and Prime Minister Ishiba are expected to advance discussions on Japan’s role in India’s bullet train project.

Defence collaboration will also feature prominently, with the Indian Navy and Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force considering joint efforts in ship maintenance within India.

After wrapping up his engagements in Japan, Prime Minister Modi will proceed to Tianjin, China, to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit at the invitation of President Xi Jinping.

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