India, Japan build ties to strengthen trade

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his recent visit to Tokyo, oversaw the signing of 13 MoUs aimed at strengthening India-Japan cooperation across key sectors. The agreements span security, space, clean energy, human resource exchange, digital partnership and environmental collaboration. Both nations also unveiled an India-Japan Joint Vision for the Next Decade along with a Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation. Notable pacts included an action plan for human resource exchange and an implementing arrangement between ISRO and JAXA on joint lunar polar exploration. Further agreements were inked on clean hydrogen and ammonia, as well as a statement of intent between India’s Ministry of Science and Technology and Japan’s MEXT. As part of his day-long programme, PM Modi also engaged with business leaders and cultural representatives. Emphasising the State-Prefecture Partnership Initiative introduced at the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit, he urged Indian states and Japanese prefectures to collaborate in trade, technology, tourism, manufacturing, start-ups, mobility and SMEs, reinforcing bilateral ties on both strategic and grassroots levels.