PM Modi leaves for Two-Day Japan visit to attend 15th Annual Summit

August 29, 2025

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed from New Delhi on Thursday for a two-day official visit to Japan, scheduled from August 29 to 30, to attend the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit. This marks his first standalone visit to Japan in nearly seven years.

The visit comes at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. During his visit, PM Modi will hold the annual summit meeting with his Japanese counterpart. Following the Japan visit, the Prime Minister will travel to China from August 31 to September 1 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin.

Ahead of his departure, Prime Minister Modi issued a statement highlighting the importance of the trip. He stated that India and Japan will focus on “next phase” of thier Special Strategic and Global Partnership, which has seen steady progress over the past 11 months.

“We would endeavour to give new wings to our collaboration, expand the scope and ambition of our economic and investment ties, and advance cooperation in new and emerging technologies, including AI and Semiconductors. The visit will also be an opportunity to strengthen our civilizational bonds and cultural ties that connect our peoples,” PM wrote.

The Indian diaspora in Japan is brimming with excitement as PM Modi is set to visit the country.

During the summit, both Prime Ministers will conduct an in-depth review of their ties, take stock of progress over the last few years across multiple domains, and, as usual, exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.

The summit will provide an opportunity to launch new initiatives aimed at building greater resilience in the India-Japan relationship and addressing emerging global challenges. The program includes a visit outside Tokyo, which will again be something to look forward to for the two leaders.

The visit also includes interactions between PM Modi and several other political leaders from Japan, as well as with the Friends of India in Japan. PM Modi will also participate in a business leaders’ forum with captains of the Japanese and Indian industry. These interactions aim to deepen the important trade, investment, and technology relationship between the two countries.

This visit marks Modi’s first standalone trip to Japan in nearly seven years and his first annual summit with Ishiba.

PM Modi last visited in 2018 for the Annual Summit. Since then, he has visited Japan, but these visits have been for multilateral engagements and other ceremonial events. This visit will be fully dedicated to the bilateral agenda between India and Japan. This is also PM Modi’s eighth visit to Japan since he took office in 2014, and reflects the very high priority that this particular relationship has in our foreign relations.

Notably, the high-level engagements between India and Japan include several significant visits and meetings. In 2007, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe delivered the “Confluence of the Two Seas” speech in the Indian Parliament, marking a significant milestone in the bilateral relationship. Six years later, in 2013, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko became the first Japanese imperial couple to visit India, strengthening cultural and diplomatic ties between the two nations