New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held separate bilateral meetings in Tokyo with and Anthony Albanese — his counterparts from Japan and Australia respectively — to review relations and move forward cooperation in key areas such as manufacturing, trade, and technology. Trade and technology partnership, cooperation in forging resilient supply chains for the region and the skill development partnership figured in the talks between them. The two leaders agreed to enhance bilateral security and cooperation, including in manufacturing. Stock of progress in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high speed rail project, they welcomed the signing of exchange of notes for the third tranche of the loan for the venture. The project is partly funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency. Also highlighted the importance of information and communication technologies, and agreed to encourage greater collaboration between the private sectors of the two sides in developing next generation communication technologies. Then discussed possibilities for collaboration in critical and emerging technologies such as 5G, beyond-5G and semiconductors. They further agreed to deepen cooperation in clean energy, including green hydrogen, through more business-to-business collaboration. The two leaders agreed that India and Japan should work towards implementing their decision to have five trillion yen in public and private investments and financing from Japan to India over the next five years. The prime minister highlighted steps taken by the Indian government to improve ease of doing business and logistics through the Gate initiative and urged to support greater investments by Japanese firms in India.
“Such investments would help in creating resilient supply chains and would be mutually beneficial,” he said. He noted that 24 Japanese companies had successfully applied under various production-linked incentives schemes. The who sides also agreed to scale up the Specified Skilled Workers (SSW) program, and Prime minister. Raised the issue of further easing travel restrictions to facilitate quarantine-free entry into Japan for travelers from India carrying Cobain and Covishield vaccination certificates. Also read: PM talks investment with Japan’s industry leaders. Besides discussing regional and global issues and reaffirming their commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific, the two leaders decided the next 2+2 meeting of foreign and ministers should be held in Japan at the earliest. Also accepted invitation to visit Japan for the next annual bilateral summit. At his meeting with, congratulated the Australian premier on his election victory. The leaders reviewed cooperation under the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, including in trade and investment, manufacturing, renewable energy, education, science and technology, agricultural research, sports and people-to-people ties. Both leaders said they will continue to take steps to maintain the positive momentum in bilateral ties, and invited to visit India. Also held separate meetings with three former Japanese prime ministers – Yoshihide Suga, More – who played important roles in developing ties with India. Sugar discussed ways to strengthen the India-Japan special strategic and global partnership. More, the current chairperson of the Japan-India Association (JMA), and Abe, who will take over the role shortly, held a separate meeting with the Indian leader, who appreciated JMA's contributions in promoting bilateral exchanges in the political, economic and cultural fields. The leaders also discussed the shared vision for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
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