Modi dials Takaichi, talks trade, defence

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he held a “heartfelt” telephonic conversation with Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, during which the two leaders agreed to strengthen the Japan-India special strategic and global partnership.

In a post in Japanese on X, Modi said he congratulated Takaichi on assuming office and exchanged views on advancing cooperation in key areas such as economic security, defence and talent mobility.

He said both leaders shared the view that strong Japan-India relations were indispensable for global peace, stability and prosperity.

Takaichi was on October 21 elected as Japan’s first woman Prime Minister and PM Modi was among the first world leaders to congratulate her. Takaichi’s government takes office at a time of growing convergence between New Delhi and Tokyo, both key members of the Quad grouping alongside the US and Australia. In recent years, India and Japan have expanded cooperation in defence, infrastructure, digital technology and human resource exchange, signing over 170 agreements worth more than $13 billion in the past two years alone.