Embassy of India

Tokyo

[Political Wing]

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 India-Japan Bilateral Brief

1. India and Japan share a 'Special Strategic and Global Partnership' since 2014. Friendship between the two countries has a long history rooted in spiritual affinity and strong cultural and civilizational ties. A notable early connection was in 752 AD when Indian monk Bodhisena performed the consecration of the Great Buddha at Todaiji Temple in Nara. In contemporary times, figures like Swami Vivekananda, Rabindranath Tagore, JRD Tata, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Rash Behari Bose, and Justice Radha Binod Pal strengthened popular imagination. Justice Pal's dissent at the War Crimes Tribunal remains deeply respected in Japan. Famous Japanese painters such as Yoshida Hiroshi and Fuku Akino based their artworks on Indian landscapes and contributed to the 20th century art movements in both countries. The Japan-India Association, established in 1903, is Japan's oldest international friendship body.
2. After World War-II, India did not attend the San Francisco Conference but decided to conclude a separate Peace Treaty with Japan on 28 April 1952, marking the beginning of diplomatic relations. Our modern partnership covers a wide range of areas of cooperation including political, defense and security, economic, science and technology, education, cultural and people to people exchange. There is synergy between India's Act- East Policy, principle of SAGAR and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) and Japan's vision of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP), leading to strategic convergence.

Summit and recent High-Level Exchanges

3. In the first decade after diplomatic ties were established, several high- level exchanges took place, including visits to India by Japanese PM Nobusuke Kishi, Crown Prince Akihito and Crown Princess Michiko, and visits to Japan by PM Jawaharlal Nehru and President Rajendra Prasad. India- Japan relations were elevated to 'Global Partnership' in 2000, 'Strategic and Global Partnership' in 2006, and 'Special Strategic and Global Partnership' in 2014 during PM Modi's first Annual Summit with Japan. Regular Annual Summits have been held between India and Japan since 2006.
4. In 2013, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited India, marking the first visit of an enthroned Emperor. PM Shinzo Abe, during his visit to India in 2007, had delivered the famous "The Confluence of Two Seas" speech in the Indian parliament that proposed linking of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. He also participated in Republic Day celebrations as the Chief Guest in 2014 and was conferred with Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian honor in 2021. President Ram Nath Kovind visited Japan in October 2019 to attend the Enthronement Ceremony of the Emperor of Japan, His Majesty Naruhito.
5. PM Modi has visited Japan eight times since 2014, for the annual Summits in 2014, 2016, 2018; G20 Osaka Summit in 2019; Quad Tokyo Summit, funeral of former PM Shinzo Abe in 2022, G7 Hiroshima Summit in May 2023 (when PM unveiled Mahatma Gandhi statue near the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park), and most recently in August 2025 for 15^th Annual Summit.
6. 15^th Annual Summit: The 15^th Annual Summit was held in Tokyo on 29-30 August 2025 when PM Modi visited Japan. During the visit, series of major outcomes were realized including document on Joint Vision for the next Decade; Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation; Action plan on human resource exchange; 10 trillion yen (USD 67 billion) of Japanese private investment in India over next decade; launch of several initiatives including Economic Security Initiative, Next Generation Mobility Partnership, Artificial Intelligence Initiative, India-Kansai Business Forum, India-Kyushu Business Forum, and agreement to launch India - Japan SME Forum. MoUs in various sectors such as clean energy, critical minerals, digital technologies, space, cultural exchanges, environment were also signed. Apart from the Summit, PM’s programme included address to the India-Japan Economic Forum (IJEF) by both PMs, calls-on PM by former Prime Ministers Yoshihide Suga & Fumio Kishida and Speaker of Japanese Diet Fukushiro Nukaga; interaction with Governors of 16 Japanese prefectures; and visit to Tokyo Electron Factory in Sendai by both leaders.
7. Interactions between PM and current Japan’s PM Sanae Takaichi (PMT):
   
   A phone call was held between PM and Japan’s new Prime Minister, Ms. Sanae Takaichi (PMT) on 29th October 2025. PM congratulated PMT on assuming office and discussed shared vision for advancing the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership, with focus on economic security, defence cooperation and talent mobility.
   
   Prime Minister held a bilateral meeting with PMT on 23 November 2025 on the sidelines of G20 Summit in Johannesburg. In the meeting, PMT said that based on the Joint Vision, Japan would like to enhance relations with India in the fields of security, economy and people-to-people ties in a decisive manner.
   
   PMT also gave a video message for the AI Impact Summit hosted in New Delhi in February 2026.

Other recent VVIP interactions

8. PM Modi had met then PM of Japan Mr. Shigeru Ishiba (PMI) on 10 October 2024 in Vientiane, Laos on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit and held a discussion on enhancing cooperation in infrastructure, connectivity, defence and other areas. The leaders had met again on 18 June 2025 on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada. On 24 April 2025, PMI had a telephone call with PM to express condolences at the loss of lives in the terror attack in Pahalgam.
9. On 23 March 2023, then PM of Japan Mr. Fumio Kishida (PMK) visited India and held a bilateral meeting with PM Modi. PMK delivered a policy speech titled "Japan's New Plan for a 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific' - 'Together with India, as an Indispensable Partner' - at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA). During the visit, both sides renewed Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) on Japanese Language and signed Exchange of Notes for the 4th tranche installment of Official Development Assistance (ODA) Loan of JPY 300 Billion (INR 18,000 crores) on Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Railway Project. India and Japan also announced 2023 as "India-Japan Year of Tourism Exchange" with the theme "Connecting Himalayas with Mount Fuji" which was further extended to 2024. PMK had again visited India on 9-10 September 2023 for the G20 Summit and met with PM Modi.
10. 14^th Annual Summit: The 14th Annual Summit was held on 19-20 March 2022 when PMK paid an official visit to India. Both sides agreed on a joint statement titled, "Partnership for a Peaceful, Stable and Prosperous Post-COVID World". At the summit, a target of JPY 5 trillion of public and private investment and financing from Japan to India was set for the next five years. Other notable announcements included a roadmap under the India-Japan Industrial Competitiveness Partnership (IJICP) and the launch of the India-Japan Clean Energy Partnership (CEP). Exchange of notes concerning seven yen loan projects in which Japan will provide over JPY 300 billion yen (USD 2.7 billion) in total also took place.
11. Apart from the annual summits and leader-level meetings, regular high-level exchanges are a hallmark of India-Japan relations. The 18^th round of Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue was held in New Delhi on 16 January 2026. EAM also met Japan’s Foreign Minister Mr. Toshimitsu Motegi (FMM) on October 27, 2025 in Malaysia on the sidelines of ASEAN-related Summit meetings. EAM has also written a letter congratulating FMM on assuming office. EAM met then Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya three times: in October 2024 on the sidelines of the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting; in Italy on 26 November 2024 and during his visits to Washington D.C. for the QUAD Foreign Ministers' Meetings on 19 January 2025 and 1 July 2025.
12. The Minister of Textiles visited Japan in July 2025. Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas also visited Japan in November 2025. The 3^rd round of the 2+2 Ministerial meeting was held in New Delhi on 20 August 2024. The last Defense Ministerial Meeting was held on 5 May 2025 in New Delhi. The 5^th round of NSA level dialogue was held in November 2019 in New Delhi. The 3^rd Deputy National Security Advisors meeting was held in November 2024 in New Delhi. The latest Foreign Secretary-Vice Minister Dialogue took place on 28 July 2025.
13. India-Japan relations are highly institutionalized with more than 70 bilateral dialogue mechanisms across a range of sectors such as space, cyber security, policy planning, civil nuclear cooperation, energy, healthcare, steel, logistics, transport, roads and road transportation, railways, MSME, food processing, automotive industry, finance, urban development, electricity, shipping, semiconductors, etc.
14. The relationship has further deepened with frequent exchanges between Indian states and Japanese prefectures: Since April 2025, Chief Ministers of Meghalaya, Nagaland, Telangana, Haryana, Punjab, Arunachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh visited Japan to engage with Japanese stakeholders and to promote their respective states as an investment destination. From Japan, Governors of Kagawa, Saga, Gunma and Wakayama prefectures visited India..
15. Parliamentary Exchanges: As two leading global democracies, rich exchanges between parliamentarians has been a regular feature since 2016. The Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan, Mr. Nukaga Fukushiro, visited India along with a delegation of Japanese parliamentarians and business leaders and met PM Modi on 01 August 2024. He again visited India from 01-05 May 2025 and held meetings with Lok Sabha Speaker and External Affairs Minister. Mr. Nukaga also traveled to Assam to hold meetings with the state government officials. A delegation of Members of Indian Parliament, headed by Mr. Arun Singh, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha visited Japan in February 2025. Following the Pahalgam terrorist attack and Operation Sindoor, an All-Party Parliamentary Delegation led by MP Sanjay Kumar Jha visited Tokyo in May 2025, and met with former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Speaker Fukushiro Nukaga, then Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya. Recently, MPs Mr. Tejasvi Surya, Mr. Manish Tewari and Mr. Richard Vanlalhmangaiha visited Japan from 2-7 March 2026 to participate in the CIl- Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF) Program.
16. Defence Cooperation: The India-Japan defence and security partnership has been on an upward trajectory. Defence exchanges have gained strength in recent years due to growing convergence on strategic matters. All three services have regular Staff Talks with the Japanese Self Defense Force. In addition to the Service to Service talks, other engagements and exercises (both bilateral and multilateral) have been on the rise. A Memorandum of Defence Cooperation and Exchanges was signed in 2014, Agreement concerning Transfer of Defence Equipment & Technology Cooperation and Agreement concerning Security Measures for Protection of Classified Military information were signed in 2015 and Implementing Arrangement for Deeper Cooperation between Indian Navy and JMSDF as signed in 2018. The Agreement concerning Reciprocal Provision of Supplies and Services between the Self-Defense Forces of Japan and the Indian Armed Forces (RPSS) was signed in September 2020. This agreement was operationalized during MILAN 2022 in March 2022 and since has been utilised in all the exercises and visits by ships, aircraft and contingents. Collaboration in defense equipment and technology is an important pillar of cooperation. India and Japan are co-developing UNICORN (Unified Complex Radio Antenna) masts for the Indian Navy. A Memorandum of Implementation was signed in November 2024, marking the first co-development of defense equipment between the two countries. During the Annual Summit 2025, a Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation was made to evolve defense and security cooperation to respond to contemporary security challenges. The 8^th Army to Army Staff Talks between India and Japan were held in Tokyo from 22-24 April 2026.
17. Economic Security: As an outcome of the 3^rd 2+2 Ministerial held in New Delhi in August 2024, both sides launched a Dialogue on Economic Security including Strategic Trade and Technology to deepen collaboration in supply chain resilience, strategic trade and technology. The inaugural round was chaired by FS and Vice Foreign Minister of Japan in November 2024 during which the five priority sectors of telecommunications, clean energy, critical minerals, pharmaceuticals and semiconductors were identified for strategic collaboration. India and Japan are also cooperating on supply chain resilience through the Quad framework. Recently, during the Annual Summit 2025, Memorandum of Cooperation in the Field of Mineral Resources was signed, to advance cooperation in supply chain resilience for critical minerals including through the development of processing technologies, joint investments for exploration and mining and efforts for stockpiling critical minerals. An Economic Security Initiative was also launched during the Summit to promote supply chain resilience in strategic sectors such as semiconductors, clean energy, telecom, pharmaceuticals, critical minerals as well as new and emerging technologies. The first Private Sector dialogue on Economic Security was held on March 26, 2026. The 1^st Joint Working Group meeting on Critical Minerals was held under the Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of Mineral Resources between the Ministry of Mines of India and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, in April 2026, through video conference. 1^st India-Japan Strategic AI Dialogue was held on 21^st April 2026 in Mumbai.

Economic and Commercial relations

18. India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (CEPA): India- Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) came into effect from 1 August 2011. The Agreement covers not only trade in goods but also services, movement of natural persons, investments, intellectual property rights, custom procedures and other trade related issues. Through this mechanism, 94% of the items that were traded between India and Japan in 2011 saw tariff reductions by 2021. In order to further expand economic and business ties and address the CEPA implementation issues, various Sub- Committees have been established under CEPA in areas of Rules of Origin, Customs Procedures, Technical Regulations, Standards and Conformity Assessment Procedures & SPS Measures, Trade in Services, Improvement of Business Environment, and Movement of Natural Persons & Cooperation. Commerce Secretary visited Japan in March 2026 and held the 7^th round of the Joint Committee Meeting on India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
19. Bilateral Trade: India's total trade with Japan in FY24-25 is USD 25.17 billion, with Exports of USD 6.25 billion and Imports of USD 18.92 billion. Japan's bilateral trade with India totaled USD 25.17 billion during FY 2024-25. Today, India ranks 18^th in Japan's total trade with 1.4% share while Japan ranks 17^th in India's total trade with 2.1% share.
20. India's primary exports to Japan are Organic Chemicals, Vehicles (Other than railways & trams), Nuclear Reactor, Aluminium and Articles thereof, Fish & other aquatic invertebrates. India's primary imports from Japan are Nuclear Reactors, Copper and Articles thereof, Electrical Machinery and Equipment, Inorganic Chemicals and Iron and Steel. The export-import statistics for the last five years as per India's Ministry of Commerce data bank are as follows:

(US Dollar billion)

21. Japan's Investments in India: Japanese outward FDI to India in FY 2021-22, FY 22-23 , FY 23-24, FY 2024-25 stood at US$ 1.49 bn, 1.79 bn and 3.17 bn and $ 2.48 bn.  Cumulatively, FDI Equity Inflow from April 2000 to March 2025, to India have been around US$ 44.39 billion ranking Japan fifth among source countries for FDI and accounting for 6.09% of total FDI into India. Japanese FDI into India has mainly been in automobile, electrical equipment, telecommunications, chemical, financial (insurance) and pharmaceutical sectors.
22. Japanese Companies in India: The number of Japanese companies registered in India is about 1500 with manufacturing firms accounting for half the total. These Japanese companies have a total of nearly 5000 business establishments in India. More than 100 Indian companies are working in Japan. India ranked 1st in a JETRO survey in 2024 on the countries in which Japanese companies wanted to expand their local operations over the next 1 to 2 years. Among Japanese companies based overseas, India has among the highest shares of profitable companies at 77.7%.
23. India Japan Industrial Competitiveness Partnership: A Memorandum of Cooperation between the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) on India Japan Industrial Competitiveness Partnership was signed on November 16, 2021 to jointly explore the possibilities of enhancing India's industrial competitiveness. Under the arrangement, Joint Working Groups in different sectors such as textiles, logistics, steel and food processing have been formed. The 7^th meeting of the India-Japan Industrial Competitiveness Partnership was held during the visit of Secretary(DPIIT) Shri Amardeep Singh Bhatia to Japan on 17 September 2025.
24. India-Japan Digital Partnership (IJDP): The establishment of the India-Japan Digital Partnership (IJDP) in 2018 has fostered collaboration in areas such as start-ups and digital talent exchange and has now broadened further to include cooperation in semiconductors. The MoC on Semiconductor Supply Chains of 2023 and the launch of a Semiconductor Policy Dialogue in 2023 have expanded the scope of digital collaboration between India and Japan. An MoU on India-Japan Digital Partnership 2.0 was signed during the Annual Summit 2025, to advance bilateral collaboration in digital public infrastructure, development of digital talent and joint R&D in futuristic technological fields such as AI, IoT, semiconductors. The 8^th JWG on ICT was held on 10 October in Delhi.
25. Skill Development: Under the India-Japan MoC signed in 2016, Japanese companies have established Japan-India Institute of Manufacturing (JIM) in India and Japanese Endowed Courses (JEC) in Indian engineering colleges. India and Japan also cooperate under the Technical Intern Training Programme (TITP) and Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) initiative of Japan to send Indian interns and blue collar workers to Japan on a short-term basis in select sectors. Human resource exchange to strengthen P2P links between India and Japan is an important priority for bilateral ties. During the Annual Summit 2025, an Action Plan for India - Japan Human Resource Exchange was agreed which included two-way exchange of 500,000 people between India and Japan, particularly 50,000 skilled and semi-skilled personnel from India to Japan in the next five years.
26. Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA): Japan has been extending bilateral loan and grant assistance to India since 1958. Japan is the largest bilateral donor to India. Japanese ODA supports India's efforts for accelerated economic development particularly in priority areas like power, transportation, environmental projects and projects related to basic human needs. Japan's ODA disbursement to India in 2024-25 stood at about JPY 440 billion.
27. India-Japan Act East Forum: Established in December 2017, the Act East Forum aims to provide a platform for India-Japan collaboration under the rubric of India's "Act East Policy" and Japan's "Vision of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific". The Forum identifies specific projects for economic modernization of India's North-East region such as those pertaining to connectivity, developmental infrastructure, industrial linkages as well as people-to-people contacts. The last meeting of the India-Japan Act East Forum was convened on 19 February 2024 in New Delhi.
28. Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) Project: India's first High Speed Rail (HSR) corridor is being implemented from Mumbai to Ahmedabad with technical and financial assistance from Japan. With 12 stations in the States of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, the corridor has a length of 508.17 km. The project envisages 'Make in India' as well as 'Capacity Development' to enable the Indian workforce to acquire skills relevant for the Japanese Shinkansen HSR technology. The project is monitored at the apex-level in the form of Joint Committee Meeting (JCM) co-chaired by Minister for Railways from the Indian side and Special Adviser to Prime Minister of Japan, on the Japanese side. Mr. Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Railways, Communications, Electronics and IT of India (MR) visited Japan during 22 - 24 December 2025 and held the 18^th JCM during the visit. Technical discussions are going on between both sides.
29. S&T Cooperation: Cooperation in this sector dates back to 1985 when an inter-governmental agreement was signed. During the meeting of EAM with then Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya in Washington DC in January 2025, 2025-26 was declared as the "India-Japan Year of Science, Technology & Innovation Exchanges." Recent notable developments are: establishment of a Joint Institute of Excellence (JIE) by IIT Bombay and Tohoku University at Tohoku in April 2025 and the third phase extension for five years of Indian Beam Line at KEK Tsukuba for advanced materials research starting October 2024. Through programs such as Sakura Science program, joint projects between Department of Science and Technology and Japan Society for Promotion of Science and various fellowship programs, Indian students and researchers attain exposure to cutting-edge innovation at Japanese institutes. During the Annual Summit 2025, a Joint Statement of Intent was signed between our Ministry of Science and Technology and Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Japan to advance cooperation in the field of science and technology through the exchange of scientists and researchers, strengthen institutional cooperation between research and scientific institutions of both countries with the involvement of start-ups and industries.
30. Space Cooperation between ISRO & JAXA: ISRO and JAXA signed an MoC in 2016 to pursue future cooperative activities in the use and exploration of outer space exclusively for peaceful purposes. Areas of cooperation include space industries and start-up, global navigation satellite systems, space situational awareness, space-related rules and norms, X-ray astronomy, satellite navigation, lunar exploration and the Asia Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF). Both sides are cooperating on the Lunar Polar Exploration Mission to explore the moon's south polar region- scheduled for launch in 2026-27. During Annual Summit 2025, an Implementing Arrangement between ISRO and JAXA concerning Joint Lunar Polar Exploration Mission was signed that defined terms and conditions for cooperation between India and Japan on the Chandrayaan 5 mission, thus giving practical shape to the collaboration.
31. Environmental Cooperation: During the visit of PM Modi to Japan in October 2018, both sides signed an MOC on Environmental Cooperation focusing on areas of Pollution Control, Waste Management, Environmental Technologies and Climate Change etc. The First India-Japan High Level Policy Dialogue on Environment was held virtually on 7^th September 2021 between Mr. Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of India and Mr. Shinjiro Koizumi, then Minister of the Environment of Japan. Preparations for the 2^nd High Level Policy Dialogue are currently underway. During Annual Summit 2025, a Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of Environment Cooperation was signed to provide framework for collaboration in areas pertaining to environmental preservation such as pollution control, climate change, waste management, sustainable use of biodiversity and environmental technologies.
32. Education, Culture and People-to-people Exchanges: Cooperation in the field of education is being conducted through partnerships between education and research institutions, student and teacher exchanges, government scholarships and promotion of Japanese language education in India. There are 665 academic and research partnerships (including student exchanges) between more than 138 universities/institutes of Japan and around 227 universities/institutions of India. The partnerships range from liberal arts to management and business studies, legal studies, international studies, linguistics, STEM including fast emerging frontier technologies. Student exchange programmes, especially short-term ones such as the Sakura program, have enabled Indian students to visit and experience Japan. Similarly, Japanese students have been coming to Indian universities for various courses including on Hindi language. Various departments of Buddhist studies at Japanese Universities also offer modules on Sanskrit, Pali, Indian Buddhism and Indian religions & philosophy as a part of their curriculum. During Annual Summit 2025, Memorandum of Cooperation on Cultural Exchange was signed to promote cooperation in the field of art and culture through exhibitions, museum collaborations and exchange of best practices in the field of cultural preservation.
33. Track 1.5 Mechanisms: Private sector stakeholders including businesses, academia and think tanks have also actively contributed to the strengthening of bilateral relations in recent years. Notable Track 1.5 mechanisms include the India-Japan Forum (IJF), which is a dialogue platform led by MEA and the Aspen Centre, the Kizuna Conclave in the North-Eastern Region of India organised by the Asian Confluence with government support, and the India-Japan Indo-Pacific Forum convened by Delhi Policy Group (DPG) and Japan Institute for International Affairs (JIIA). A business track of the Dialogue on Economic Security is also being planned with CII and Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) to take the lead. The last (8^th ) round of Japan-India Indo-Pacific Forum was held on 4-5 November 2025 in Tokyo, and the 4^th round of IJF was held in New Delhi on 7-8 December 2025.
34. Indian Community in Japan: Around 65,000 Indians currently live in Japan. In recent years, there has been a change in the composition of the Indian community with the arrival of many professionals, including IT professionals and engineers. The Nishikasai area in Tokyo is emerging as a "mini-India". Their growing numbers had prompted the opening of three Indian schools in Tokyo. Indian jewellery merchants from Gujarat and Maharashtra are also a prominent demographic in cities such as Kobe.

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