India, Japan Strengthen Strategic Ties as PM Sanae Takaichi Begins Official Visit

New Delhi, July 2, 2026 India and Japan have reaffirmed their intent to deepen their long-standing strategic partnership as Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi commenced her three-day official visit to India. The visit, centred around the 16th India–Japan Annual Summit, is expected to focus on enhancing bilateral cooperation while addressing regional and global issues of common interest. Marking the occasion, Takaichi was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed her ahead of the high-level discussions Takaichi arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday evening for her first official visit to India since assuming office and was received at Palam Airport by Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh. Welcoming the Japanese Prime Minister, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) posted on X, “A very warm welcome to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi of Japan, who arrives in New Delhi on an Official Visit. PM Takaichi was received by MoS Dr. Jitendra Singh. The visit marks an important step in taking forward the Special Strategic and Global Partnership between India and Japan.” Japan's Cabinet Public Relations Office also posted, “Our heartfelt thanks for your warm welcome. We are very much excited to be visiting India!”** Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X, “A very warm welcome to India, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. We are delighted to host you on your first visit to India and I look forward to our wide-ranging discussions tomorrow that will further deepen the India–Japan Special Strategic and Global partnership. Ahead of her departure from Tokyo, Takaichi emphasised the growing importance of closer cooperation with India amid global uncertainties. She said, “Through this visit, I hope to advance concrete cooperation with Prime Minister Modi in three key areas: deepening the Japan–India strategic partnership in light of the current international situation; promoting cooperation in economic security; and strengthening collaboration between businesses of our two countries toward investment and innovation." She also announced that the Japan–India Economic Forum, scheduled during the visit, would bring together representatives from more than 150 Japanese companies and business organisations, adding, **“Working together with the private sector, I hope to broaden the scope of Japan–India cooperation and realise a strong economy.” Highlighting the broader strategic outlook, Takaichi stressed that India and Japan, as leading democracies in Asia, share the responsibility of preserving peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific. She stated, “India, along with Japan, is one of Asia’s leading democracies and shares responsibility to maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Against this backdrop, I look forward to having thorough discussions with Prime Minister Modi on efforts to realise a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP), including cooperation through the Quad framework. Finally, as this visit is being made on the invitation of Prime Minister Modi, I also hope it will provide an opportunity to further deepen the personal trust between us.” Japanese Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masanao Ozaki also said that participation from over 150 companies at the Japan–India Economic Forum is expected to further strengthen cooperation in security and economic security, reinforcing the momentum of the bilateral partnership.