New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that his visits to Japan and China are to pursue India’s national interests, focus on strengthening strategic partnerships, expanding economic and technical cooperation and promoting regional peace and stability.According to a departure statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), he will visit Japan at the invitation of his counterpart Shigeru Ishiba for the 15th Annual Summit, before attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin in China.The statement of the departure stated that the India-Japan partnership had “stable and important progress” in the last eleven years and insisted that the two nations will now work on the “next stage” of their special strategic and global partnership. He said, “We will try to give new wings to our cooperation, expand the scope and ambition of our economic and investment relations and to give new wings, including advance support, AI and Semiconductors, in new and emerging technologies.”The Prime Minister also underlined the cultural dimension of the visit, given that it would provide an opportunity to deepen “decent bonds and cultural relations” between the people of the two countries.
Departure details
From Japan, Modi will travel to Tianjin, China at the invitation of President Xi Jinping to attend the SCO summit. Reiterating India’s role as a “active and creative member” of groups, he said that during its chairmanship, India started a new initiative in innovation, health and cultural exchange. “I am also keen to meet President Xi Jinping, President Putin and other leaders,” the statement said. It states that India is committed to working with SCO members to deal with shared challenges and expand regional cooperation.Expressing optimism, the statement concluded, “I am confident that my journey to Japan and China will carry forward our national interests and priorities, and will contribute to making fruitful cooperation in furthering regional and global peace, security and sustainable development.”
