Indian Prime Minister Modi arrives in Japan, the response of India and Japan to US trade protectionism is noteworthy

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Japan on the morning of the 29th (Japan time) and held a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba at the Prime Minister's Office in the afternoon of the same day. The two heads of state will issue a joint statement focusing on strengthening Japan-India security cooperation and economic collaboration.

On the 27th, the United States imposed punitive tariffs on Indian purchases of Russian oil, increasing the tariff on Indian goods to 50%, which is called the highest level globally.

Modi's visit to Japan was originally planned, but under the international situation where Japan and India have to simultaneously respond to Trump's high tariffs, the importance of Japan-India head-of-state diplomacy is further increasing. It is highly anticipated how Japan and India will voice their stance against US trade protectionism and the international free trade system being disrupted by the Trump administration.

This is the 8th time that PM Modi has visited Japan as a prime minister (the last one was in May 2023). On the 29th, Prime Minister Ishiba and PM Modi attended the "Japan-India Economic Forum," hosted by organizations such as the Japan Business Federation and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), which gathered businesspeople from both countries.

Prime Minister Ishiba and PM Modi stated: Japan and India are important partners, and both sides have shown willingness to promote economic cooperation through measures such as expanding investments.

At the forum, Prime Minister Ishiba said: "Japan and India are strategic partners sharing universal values such as freedom, democracy, and rule of law, and have long cultivated friendship and trust. The technology of Japan and the excellent human resources and vast market of India complement each other, enabling the economic relationship between the two countries to achieve remarkable expansion." He also pointed out that Toyota Motor and Suzuki are advancing new large-scale investments, and a solid supply chain between the two countries is continuously being established.

Additionally, he mentioned his visit to India six years ago, saying, "At that time, the people I met were full of strong hope for the future, and I was impressed by the growth vitality of India. Expanding talent exchange will be key to making the future of the two countries richer." He expressed the intention to promote talent exchanges between the two countries.

PM Modi pointed out that Japan is a technological powerhouse, and India is a country with a large population, and the advanced technology of Japan and the scale of India can build a perfect partnership, jointly leading the technological revolution of the new century.

It is reported that in 2024, India's gross domestic product (GDP) was approximately $3.9127 trillion, ranking fifth in the world, just behind Japan (4.0262 trillion dollars), with a GDP growth rate as high as 6.5%. The huge market with unlimited potential and rich high-end talent reserves could become a support for Japan's economy. For India, which is facing high tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, accepting investment and technology from Japan could become an opportunity and catalyst for its economic development.

Prime Minister Ishiba will hold a head-of-state meeting with Indian Prime Minister Modi on the afternoon of the 29th (Japan time). In response to the increased friction with the United States due to Trump's tariffs, the two sides will seek to strengthen cooperation in the fields of economy and security.

Prime Minister Ishiba plans to propose a target of achieving 10 trillion yen in private investment to India, which has a population of 1.4 billion and the world's largest market, during the meeting.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi stated in a press conference on the morning of the 29th: "We expect the friendly cooperative relationship between Japan and India to be further deepened in various fields, especially in the economic field, through this meeting."

Prime Minister Ishiba also plans to reach a consensus during the head-of-state meeting on the exchange of more than 500,000 people between the two countries within the next five years, aiming to introduce high-level talents including those in science and engineering to promote Japan's economic growth.

In the draft of the "Joint Vision (Outlook)" outlining the direction of cooperation for the next 10 years, in addition to clearly stating the target of 10 trillion yen in private investment from Japan to India, it also includes eight areas of cooperation, such as introducing Japan's newly developed Shinkansen into India.

Modi issued a statement on the 28th regarding this visit to Japan, saying: "We will focus on building the next stage of the 'Special Strategic Global Partnership,' giving the partnership new wings and promoting cooperation in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and semiconductors."

Sources: rfi

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1841782312246404/

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