Modi and Kishida met three times in 2022, including at Abe’s funeral. They will meet at least three more times in 2023 — on the sidelines of the G-20, G-7 and Quad summits.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida being welcomed upon his arrival at New Delhi.

Modi referred to India’s presidency of the G20 and Japan chairing the G7 grouping, and said it is the best opportunity to work together on priorities of both sides for global good.

Modi said he briefed Prime Minister Kishida extensively about priorities of the Indian presidency of G20.

Kishida is likely to announce a new plan for an open and free Indo-Pacific in New Delhi, seeking India’s support to check China’s growing influence across the region.

Fumio Kishida pays homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat, in New Delhi.

PM Modi said the India-Japan Special strategic partnership is based on the democratic principles and respect for international rule of law and is important for the Indo-Pacific as well.

Modi said the two sides reviewed progress in bilateral relations especially in areas of defence, digital technology, trade and investment and health among others.

Modi said both sides also discussed the importance of reliable supply chains for semi-conductors and other critical technologies.

Kishida said Tokyo’s economic cooperation with New Delhi continues to grow rapidly and it will not only support development of India but create economic opportunities for Japan.

Japanese PM said he formally invited Modi for the G7 summit in May and that his Indian counterpart accepted the invite. 

Kishida, during his visit to India in March last year, announced an investment target of five trillion Yen (Rs 3,20,000 crore) in India over the next five years.

India-Japan relations were elevated to ‘Global Partnership’ in 2000, ‘Strategic and Global Partnership’ in 2006, and ‘Special Strategic and Global Partnership’ in 2014.

Japan is a very close partner of India with which it has both an annual summit and a ‘2+2’ foreign and defence ministerial dialogues.

The bilateral trade between the two sides stood at $20.75 billion last year, which was the largest ever.