Why in news?
The 15th India-Japan Annual Summit took place on August 29-30, 2025, during which Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Japan
 
Major Agreements and Initiatives

• A 10-year Joint Vision was adopted focusing on eight priority areas: economic partnership, economic security, mobility, ecological sustainability, technology and innovation, health, people-to-people ties, and state-prefecture engagements.
• A Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation was signed to strengthen defense and security ties in response to contemporary regional challenges.
• An Action Plan for Human Resource Exchange aims to promote two-way mobility of 500,000 people over five years, including 50,000 skilled personnel from India to Japan.
• Several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed, including one on a Joint Crediting Mechanism to facilitate green energy technologies and investments.
• The India-Japan Digital Partnership 2.0 was launched to advance collaboration in digital public infrastructure, AI, IoT, semiconductors, and joint R&D.

Economic and Technological Cooperation

• Japan committed to investing 10 trillion yen (~$68 billion) in India over the next decade, with a focus on start-ups, SMEs, and strategic sectors like semiconductors, rare earth minerals, clean energy, and pharmaceuticals.
• Launch of specific initiatives such as the India-Japan AI Initiative, Next Generation Mobility Partnership, Sustainable Fuel Initiative, and Battery Supply Chain Partnership.
• Enhanced cooperation on supply chain resilience and economic security in sensitive technologies and critical minerals.

Space and Defense Collaboration

• ISRO and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) signed a cooperation agreement for the Chandrayaan-5 lunar mission targeting the Moon’s South Pole.
• Defence and security cooperation elevated in the context of contemporary geopolitical and security realities.
• People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges
• Institutionalizing high-level exchanges between Indian states and Japanese prefectures.
• Setting up business forums between India and Japanese regions like Kansai and Kyushu to boost cultural and business linkages.
• Commitment to deepen professional exchanges and training programs, including Indian skilled workers contributing to Japan’s economy.

Strategic and Geopolitical Outlook

• Both nations reaffirmed their commitment to a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
• The partnership viewed as pivotal for shaping stability, growth, and prosperity in Asia, leveraging India’s scale and Japan’s technology and innovation capabilities.

The Annual Summit marks the highest bilateral engagement mechanism, underscoring the strategic alignment and long-term relationship between India and Japan to promote mutual security, prosperity, and global cooperation.

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