‘Stronger ties vital’: Modi speaks to new Japan counterpart Sanae Takaichi

This was the first phone conversation between Modi and Takaichi since she assumed office as Japan’s first woman PM, succeeding Shigeru Ishiba, last week.

“Had a warm conversation with Sanae Takaichi, Prime Minister 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, defence cooperation and talent mobility,” Modi said in a post on X.

“We agreed that stronger India-Japan ties are vital for global peace, stability and prosperity,” Modi said.

A Japanese Foreign ministry statement said that “on October 29, commencing at 14:00 p.m. for approximately 25 minutes, TAKAICHI Sanae, Prime Minister of Japan, held a summit telephone talk with Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India.”

It said, “At the outset, Prime Minister Takaichi stated that, as the two countries share fundamental values and strategic interests, Japan intends to continue to work together toward realising a ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’, including through Japan-Australia-India-U.S. (Quad)… Takaichi also stated that, based on the Japan-India Joint Vision for the Next Decade presented during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Japan in August 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”, it said.

“In response, Prime Minister Modi conveyed his heartfelt congratulations to Prime Minister 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,” the Japanese statement said.

Last week, Modi had extended his wishes to Takaichi on her election. In a post on X, PM Modi had said, “I look forward to working closely with you to further strengthen the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership. Our deepening ties are vital for peace, stability, and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific and beyond.”

Takaichi, who is a protege of former Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, is a hardline conservative and replaced former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba after the long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party suffered disastrous losses in July elections for parliament’s upper house and lost its majority in the lower House last year.