In an opinion piece in the Japanese newspaper–Yomiuri Shimbun, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that closer India-Japan cooperation is vital in the post-COVID world. He also said that the two nations constitute key pillars of a stable and secure Indo-Pacific region.
Modi, who arrived in Japan for the four-member Quad summit tweeted: "Closer India-Japan cooperation is vital in the post-COVID world. Our nations are firmly committed to democratic values. Together, we are key pillars of a stable and secure Indo-Pacific region. I am equally glad that we are working closely in various multilateral forums as well."
Penned an op-ed on the vibrant relations between India and Japan. Ours is a partnership for peace, stability and prosperity. I trace the journey of our special friendship which completes 70 glorious years. @Yomiuri_Online https://t.co/nXx8y3qiQL
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 23, 2022
The Quad is a strategic security dialogue between India, Australia, Japan, and the US and aims at balancing China in the Indo-Pacific.
Besides the Quad summit with US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and the new Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Modi's two-day visit also includes interactions with top Japanese business leaders.
Among the points on the agenda are strengthening bilateral relations between the four nations, advocating for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP), peace in the Taiwan Strait where China has made numerous aggressive moves and the launch of a new trade agreement called the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) by Biden.
Landed in Tokyo. Will be taking part in various programmes during this visit including the Quad Summit, meeting fellow Quad leaders, interacting with Japanese business leaders and the vibrant Indian diaspora. pic.twitter.com/ngOs7EAKnU
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 22, 2022
In his opinion piece for the Yomiuri Shimbun, Modi said: "I have had the opportunity of regularly interacting with the Japanese people since my days as Gujarat CM. Japan’s developmental strides have always been admirable. Japan is partnering India in key sectors including infrastructure, technology, innovation, start-ups and more".
Among the notable Japanese businessmen, Modi plans to meet Nobuhiro Endo, Chairman of NEC Corporation; Tadashi Yanai, President and CEO of UNIQLO; Osamu Suzuki, Adviser of Suzuki Motor Corporation and Masayoshi Son, Board Director at Softbank Group Corporation.
On Monday, Modi interacted with children gathered outside his hotel. News agency ANI reported his conversation with Ritsuki Kobayashi, who was waiting for an autograph from him. "Waah! Where did you learn Hindi from?… You know it pretty well?" PM Modi told him. Ritsuki Kobayashi said that he is very happy and said, "He (PM Modi) read my message, which I wrote on paper and this is the reason that I am very happy and even I got his signature."
The Tokyo summit is the fourth Quad summit of the leaders since their first virtual meeting in March 2021, the in-person Summit in Washington in September 2021 and the virtual meeting in March this year. The leaders will review the progress of Quad initiatives and Working Groups, identify new areas of cooperation and provide strategic guidance and vision for future collaboration.
(With inputs from ANI)
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