PM Modi begins a two-nation visit to Japan and China, aiming to strengthen India’s strategic partnerships, economic ties, and regional influence. The visit includes the 15th India-Japan Summit with PM Shigeru Ishiba and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in China, focusing on peace, security, and sustainable development.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed confidence that his upcoming visits to Japan and China would play a significant role in furthering India’s national interests and priorities. The Prime Minister made these remarks in his departure statement ahead of his journey, underlining that the visits will contribute to fostering fruitful cooperation in advancing regional and global peace, security, and sustainable development.
PM Modi’s tour will first take him to Japan, where he is scheduled to participate in the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit. This will be his first official summit meeting with his Japanese counterpart, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. The visit marks PM Modi’s eighth trip to Japan as Prime Minister, his most recent one being in May 2023.
The two leaders had last met in June 2025 on the side-lines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada, and earlier during the 21st ASEAN-India Summit in Vientiane, Laos. The upcoming summit is expected to shape the next phase of the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership, which has witnessed steady and meaningful progress over the past eleven years.
In his departure statement, PM Modi emphasized that the visit would focus on expanding the scope and ambition of economic and investment ties while also advancing cooperation in new and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductors. He also highlighted the civilizational and cultural bonds between the two countries, describing the visit as an opportunity to further strengthen these enduring connections.
During the two-day visit, the leaders are expected to hold wide-ranging discussions on bilateral, regional, and global issues. The Japanese Foreign Ministry expressed optimism that the visit would deepen the friendly and cooperative relations between the two nations, underscoring the significance of India-Japan ties.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the summit will provide an opportunity for both leaders to review all aspects of the Special Strategic and Global Partnership, including defense and security, trade and economy, innovation and technology, as well as people-to-people exchanges. The agenda will also cover pressing regional and global concerns.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri described the annual summit as the highest-level dialogue mechanism between India and Japan, which drives the overall agenda of their strategic partnership. He emphasized that India and Japan have broadened their cooperation in recent years, and the visit will further strengthen resilience and open new opportunities.
Misri also noted the growing importance of the Quad grouping—comprising India, Japan, the United States, and Australia—in the Indo-Pacific, describing it as a vital framework for stability in the region. He further pointed out that cooperation between Indian states and Japanese prefectures has increased significantly, and this aspect will also receive attention during the visit.
Apart from high-level meetings, PM Modi will also take part in a business leaders’ forum involving top industry representatives from both nations. The discussions are expected to focus on deepening economic cooperation, investment opportunities, and collaboration in critical technologies, as well as reinforcing shared priorities within the Quad framework.
Following his engagements in Japan, PM Modi will travel to China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin from August 31 to September 1. This marks his first visit to China in seven years and his first since the Galwan Valley clash between Indian and Chinese troops in June 2020.
Speaking about his China visit, PM Modi said, “From Japan, I will travel to China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Tianjin, at the invitation of President Xi Jinping. India is an active and constructive member of the SCO. During our Presidency, we have introduced new ideas and initiated collaboration in innovation, health, and cultural exchanges.”
He added that India remains committed to working with SCO members to address shared challenges and deepen regional cooperation. The Prime Minister is also expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and other key leaders on the sidelines of the summit.
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PM Modi’s back-to-back visits to Japan and China underscore India’s strategic balancing in the region, highlighting its focus on enhancing bilateral ties with democratic allies like Japan while also maintaining dialogue within multilateral platforms that include China and Russia. Analysts believe these visits could play a pivotal role in strengthening India’s role in shaping the evolving security and economic architecture of the Indo-Pacific and Eurasian regions.
With a clear focus on national interests, PM Modi’s twin visits aim to secure India’s long-term priorities by boosting strategic partnerships, enhancing economic resilience, and reaffirming India’s commitment to peace, prosperity, and sustainable development in the region and beyond.
