[Provisional translation]
On July 2, 2026 (local time), Prime Minister TAKAICHI Sanae, who was visiting Delhi, India, attended an exchange ceremony for Memoranda of Cooperation (MOCs) and a joint press statement with H.E. Mr. Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, and attended a luncheon hosted by Prime Minister Modi.
At the joint press statement, Prime Minister TAKAICHI made the following remarks:
(Prime Minister Takaichi)
Good afternoon. Namaskar.
At the outset, I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to Prime Minister Modi and the people of India for the warm hospitality extended to me during my visit.
A few moments ago, Prime Minister Modi graciously referred to me as his “beautiful sister.” During our meeting prior to the expanded session, we promised each other that we would continue to build our relationship as brother and sister.
At a time when the international environment is becoming increasingly complex and uncertain, it is more important than ever for Japan and India to build a mutually complementary partnership that enables us to become stronger and more prosperous together by drawing on each other’s strengths.
In the course of our discussions today, Prime Minister Modi and I once again confirmed that we share many common objectives. We agreed to deepen our cooperation with a particular focus on the following three areas.
First, we agreed to deepen the strategic cooperative relationship between Japan and India.
Japan and India share a common vision for the kind of international order we should build amid today’s challenging international environment.
Recently, I announced the updated Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP), which places greater emphasis on strengthening the autonomy and resilience of countries in order to realize a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.
Prime Minister Modi, for his part, has advanced MAHASAGAR, which views the oceans as a shared space supporting regional stability and growth and seeks to help countries in the Indian Ocean region safeguard their sovereignty and maritime interests through their own efforts. This initiative is fully aligned with the principles of the updated FOIP.
To advance these shared objectives, we agreed to further deepen the strategic partnership between Japan and India to advance these shared objectives. In particular, expanding maritime security cooperation is essential for peace and stability in the region.
To coincide with my visit, a joint exercise between a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer and an Indian Navy vessel is scheduled to take place.
We will advance cooperation through expanded maritime exercises in the Indian Ocean and other waters, ship maintenance cooperation, and defense equipment and technology cooperation based on the “Make in India” initiative. To further strengthen these efforts, we instructed the relevant authorities to intensify consultations and to convene the next Japan-India Foreign and Defence Ministerial 2+2 Meeting within this year.
Second, we agreed to advance Japan-India cooperation in the fields of economic security and energy security.
Both our countries face common challenges, including the weaponization of economic dependencies and non-market policies and practices. Strengthening resilient supply chains for critical goods has therefore become an urgent priority.
Likewise, in light of the situation in the Middle East, both Japan and India bear responsibility for strengthening regional energy security, as reflected in Japan’s POWERR Asia initiative.
Accordingly, we issued today a Japan-India Joint Declaration on Economic Security Cooperation, which will translate our shared objectives into concrete public-private action. Under POWERR Asia, we will establish a bilateral dialogue on strengthening India’s crude oil and petroleum product stockpiles.
Japan will also support India’s participation in the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Furthermore, we are launching the Japan-India Cooperative Biogas for Growth Initiative (Japan-India CBG Initiative), which, as Prime Minister Modi has just noted, will contribute to India’s goal of developing 1,000 biogas plants utilizing cattle manure and other biomass resources through the cooperative model as part of its energy transition.
Third, we agreed to co-create economic growth for Japan and India through investment and innovation collaboration.
My government is pursuing a strong economy by strengthening Japan’s industrial and technological capabilities through investment in seventeen strategic sectors.
Prime Minister Modi is leading India’s remarkable development under the national vision of Viksit Bharat, with the goal of making India a developed country by 2047. In this way, we share the common objective of making our nations stronger and more prosperous through investment in the future.
The distinguished representatives of Japan’s business community who have joined us on this visit will play a vital role in helping us realize this shared vision.
Today, we announced approximately 120 cooperation memoranda between Japanese and Indian companies, including investment decisions totaling around 2 trillion yen. Working hand in hand with the private sector, we will open a new chapter in the future of Japan-India cooperation.
Next year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and India. I hope it will serve as an opportunity to bring our peoples even closer together. Under our Special Strategic and Global Partnership, and as trusted partners sharing a common strategic direction, I look forward to working together with my elder brother, Prime Minister Modi, to elevate Japan-India relations to even greater heights.
I also look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Modi to Japan on his next visit.
Thank you very much.
