Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's Press Secretary, Toshihiro Kitamura, stated on Thursday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi referring to the Japanese leader as his 'Choti Behen' (younger sister) during the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit successfully established a personal bond of trust between the two leaders. Kitamura, who serves as Press Secretary and Official Spokesperson for Prime Minister Takaichi, made the remarks in an interview with ANI.
Key Objective of Takaichi's Maiden India Visit
Kitamura emphasised that building a strong personal rapport with Prime Minister Modi was a central goal of Takaichi's first official visit to India since she assumed office in October. 'This is the very first visit for Prime Minister Takaichi to India since her taking office last October. And I think that one of the objectives of this visit is to build a personal bond of trust between two leaders. So in this context, I think that this meeting was successful in constructing such a bond of trust between two leaders,' Kitamura said.
Modi's Warm Welcome and 'Choti Behen' Reference
During a joint press statement following the annual summit, Prime Minister Modi warmly welcomed Takaichi and referred to her as his 'younger sister (Choti Behen)'. Modi said, 'I welcome Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi, my younger sister, to India for her first visit to the India-Japan Annual Summit. She is the first woman PM of Japan and also a visionary and popular leader. She is from Nara prefecture in Japan, with which India has Buddhist linkages.'
Reciprocal Gesture by Takaichi
Prime Minister Takaichi reciprocated the gesture during her statement, noting that the two leaders had agreed to advance the India-Japan relationship 'as brother and sister'. This exchange underscored the warmth and mutual trust that characterised their discussions.
Wide-Ranging Talks and Agreements
The two prime ministers held extensive talks covering economic security, artificial intelligence, clean energy, semiconductors, critical minerals, connectivity, and regional cooperation. The summit concluded with multiple agreements and joint statements aimed at expanding the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership across emerging sectors.
Three-Day Official Visit
Takaichi's three-day official visit to India from July 1 to July 3 was at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi. During the visit, she participated in the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit, where both leaders reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation and discussed regional and global issues of mutual interest.
