As Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets Narendra Modi in Delhi for the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit, the bilateral relationship — usually discussed in terms of trade, technology and defence — rests on a much older foundation- a shared Buddhist heritage tracing back to Varanasi.

Kashi to Kyoto: How Buddhism built Asia's oldest, quietest bridge from India to Japan

PM Narendra Modi and Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi signed key agreements to strengthen a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific. The India-Japan MoCs focus on economic security, defence cooperation, supply chains, maritime collaboration and strategic partnership amid regional challenges.

India-Japan MoCs in focus: From AI to defence, here's what PM Modi and Takaichi signed

PM Narendra Modi welcomed Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi at Rashtrapati Bhavan ahead of the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit in New Delhi. The leaders shared a warm handshake and posed for official photographs as both nations prepared for talks on strategic partnership, trade and regional cooperation.

Watch: PM Modi, Japan PM Sanae Takaichi exchange warm handshake as India-Japan summit begins: What it signifies

Several Indian companies, including Tata Electronics, have partnered with Japan's leading chip firms to support India's ambition of becoming a global semiconductor manufacturing hub.

WION Decodes | Takaichi's visit puts the India-Japan semiconductor partnership in focus

While Japan provides the eyes, India provides missiles as ASEAN nations keep a closer watch on China in the South China Sea.

India-Japan alter balance of power in the Indo-Pacific

The Japan-India Joint Vision for the Next Decade, adopted at the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit in Tokyo in August 2025, outlines a roadmap to deepen bilateral ties while targeting 10 trillion JPY ($68 billion) in Japanese private investment in India.

Takaichi's India visit: Decoding India-Japan Joint Vision for Next Decade and its eight pillars

The Indian Navy is looking to wet-lease four amphibious aircraft for a four-year period to strengthen its maritime security and search-and-rescue capabilities. This recent requirement brings Japan's ShinMaywa US-2 seaplane back into consideration.

Seaplane redux: ShinMaywa's US-2 back in contention for the Indian Navy lease

Japan's Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, is on a three-day visit for the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit from July 1-3. The Summit will provide an opportunity for both nations to review and strengthen the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation and exchange views on regional and global issues.

EXPLAINED: What Japan's Taiwan stance against China means for India ahead of Modi-Takaichi talks?

India and Japan seek to deepen their economic cooperation at a time when global supply chains are being reshaped and competition for advanced technologies is intensifying. A strong, mutually beneficial partnership can help the two complementary economies accelerate growth for both nations.

50 biz honchos accompanying Japan’s PM to Delhi, eager to ride on India’s growth story

Japanese PM Shinzo Abe and PM Modi today released a joint statement emphasising trade, maritime security and space exploration as the driving force between the two countries.

In joint statement, India, Japan pledge partnership in maritime security, space exploration & digital growth

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Tokyo on Saturday evening for his two-day state visit to Japan. He will also attend the 13th India-Japan Annual Summit. Modi interacted with members of the Indian community at Imperial Hotel in the Capital immediately after his arrival.

PM Modi arrives in Tokyo for 13th India-Japan Annual Summit