Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to India, describing her as his "younger sister" during the India-Japan Annual Summit, setting a warm tone for talks focused on strengthening bilateral ties.
"I welcome Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi, my younger sister, to India for her first visit for the India-Japan Annual Summit. She is the first woman Prime Minister of Japan and a visionary and popular leader," Modi said.
Responding warmly, Takaichi thanked Modi for calling her his "beautiful younger sister" and said the two leaders had reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening India-Japan ties.
Welcoming Takaichi on her maiden visit as Japan's Prime Minister, Modi described the summit as the beginning of a "new chapter" in bilateral relations. He highlighted the two countries' shared commitment to a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific, while emphasising technology as a key pillar of the partnership.
The summit resulted in several major outcomes, including India and Japan's first-ever defence co-development agreement. The two countries also announced initiatives to deepen cooperation in economic security, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, critical minerals, clean energy and strategic technologies.
The leaders held delegation-level talks at Hyderabad House in the presence of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and senior officials from both sides.
Earlier in the day, Takaichi received a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan. She is on a three-day official visit to India from July 1 to 3 at Prime Minister Modi's invitation.
