Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday addressed his Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi as his 'younger sister' during a joint press meet at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi, hailing her as a 'visionary and popular leader'. The gesture was met with a warm smile from Takaichi, who listened to the simultaneous translation in Japanese via a tech device.
Summit Highlights and Bilateral Agreements
Following summit talks, Modi and Takaichi unveiled a raft of landmark initiatives to deepen bilateral cooperation across various sectors. The two leaders confirmed their shared commitment to developing the relationship as 'brother and sister', as Takaichi stated in her address, which was simultaneously translated into English.
Modi began his address with 'Namaskar! Konnichiwa', using both Hindi and Japanese greetings. He expressed delight in welcoming Takaichi on her first visit to India for the annual summit, noting she is Japan's first female prime minister and hails from Nara Prefecture, a key centre of shared Buddhist heritage. He concluded his speech with 'bahut bahut dhanyawad' and 'arigatou gozaimasu'.
Deepening Strategic Cooperation
In her address, Takaichi acknowledged Modi's remarks and said they agreed to 'deepen strategic cooperation' to achieve common goals. She expressed heartfelt gratitude for the warm hospitality extended by Modi and the people of India. The Ministry of External Affairs earlier stated that the India-Japan partnership is 'built on trust' and anchored in shared values and strategic convergence.
Modi also announced that next year marks the 75th anniversary of India-Japan diplomatic relations, and the two countries will deepen connections through cooperation in culture, tourism, and the creative economy.
Ceremonial Welcome and Historical Context
Takaichi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday morning, with Modi present. This is her first official visit to India, from July 1 to 3, for the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X that the visit marks an important step in taking forward the Special Strategic and Global Partnership.
India-Japan relations have evolved from Global Partnership in 2000 to Strategic and Global Partnership in 2006, and Special Strategic and Global Partnership in 2014. Regular annual summits have been held since 2006. Modi visited Japan for the 15th Annual Summit in Tokyo in August 2025.
