NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his new Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi spoke for the first time Wednesday, looking to advance the strategic partnership and agreeing that stronger India-Japan ties are vital for global peace, stability and prosperity. Significantly, Takaichi underlined the significance of working together in the Indo-Pacific, including through Quad, amid uncertainty over the next summit meeting of the grouping.Modi said in a post on X that they discussed economic security and defense cooperation. “Had a warm conversation with Sanae Takaichi, PM of Japan. Congratulated her on assuming office and discussed our shared vision for advancing the India-Japan special strategic and global partnership, with focus on economic security, defense cooperation and talent mobility. We agreed that stronger India-Japan ties are vital for global peace, stability and prosperity,” he said. The leaders spoke a day after US President Donald Trump’s meeting with Takaichi, the first female leader of Japan, in Tokyo.According to a Japanese readout Takaichi stated “at the outset” that the two countries share fundamental values and strategic interests and Japan intends to continue to work together towards realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific including through Japan-Australia-India-US (Quad).“Prime Minister Takaichi also stated that, based on the Japan-India joint vision for the next decade presented during PM Modi’s visit to Japan in Aug this year, Japan will further advance cooperation with India in a wide range of fields, including security, economy, investment, innovation, and people-to-people exchanges. She expressed her intention to work together with Prime Minister Modi to open a new golden chapter in the Japan-India special strategic and global partnership,” said a Japanese readout.“In response, PM Modi conveyed his heartfelt congratulations to PM Takaichi on her appointment, and said that he is pleased to be able to speak with her soon after assuming office, and stated that he looks forward to further strengthening Japan-India relations through advancing concrete cooperation in various areas,” it added.
