PM Modi arrives in Tokyo, gets rousing reception by Indians

Tokyo/New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived to a warm welcome early Monday morning in Tokyo to participate in the second in-person Quad Summit being held on May 24.

"Landed in Tokyo. Will be taking part in various programmes during this visit including the Quad Summit, meeting fellow Quad leaders, interacting with Japanese business leaders and the vibrant Indian diaspora," the PM wrote on Twitter after reaching the Japanese capital.

This is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's fifth visit to Japan in the last eight years.

The Prime Minister was warmly welcomed in Japan particularly by the Indian community living in Tokyo. Indians were seen chanting slogans in support of their Prime Minister. He was also seen interacting with the kids upon arrival.

Modi's important engagements in Tokyo are scheduled to begin at 10.30 AM (IST). He will be meeting with a number of Japanese business leaders which includes Nobuhiro Endo, Chairman, NEC Corporation; Tadashi Yanai, Chairman/President and CEO, UNIQLO; Osamu Suzuki, Adviser, Suzuki Motor Corporation and Masayoshi Son, Board Director at Softbank Group Corp.

Before leaving for Japan, Modi said that during the March 2022 India-Japan Annual Summit, PM Kishida and he had announced their intention to realize JPY 5 trillion in public and private investment and financing over the next five years from Japan to India.

"During the forthcoming visit, I will meet with Japanese business leaders with the goal of further strengthening economic linkages between our countries, in pursuit of this objective," the PM said.

The Prime Minister will also participate in the launch of Indo-Pacific Economic Framework by US President Joe Biden.

The IPEF is an economic arrangement focused around the further integration of Indo-Pacific economies, setting of standards and rules particularly in new areas like the digital economy, and to ensure that there are secure and resilient supply chains.

Modi will have a Roundtable with Japanese business leaders later in the day after the IPEF event.

He is also scheduled to interact with the Indian community living in Japan in the evening.

In his statement before leaving, Prime Minister Modi said that Japan is home to nearly 40,000 members of the Indian diaspora, who are an important anchor in India's relations with Japan.

On Quad, the PM said that the "Quad leaders will exchange views about developments in the Indo-Pacific region and global issues of mutual interest."

"The Summit will provide an opportunity for the leaders of the four Quad nations to review the progress of Quad initiatives," he said.

The PM also said that economic cooperation between India and Japan is an important aspect of our Special Strategic and Global Partnership.

"In March 2022, I had the pleasure of hosting Prime Minister Kishida for the 14th India-Japan Annual Summit. During my visit to Tokyo, I look forward to continuing our conversation further, with an aim to strengthen the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership," the PM said.

"I will hold a bilateral meeting with President Joseph Biden, where we will discuss further consolidation of our multi-faceted bilateral relations with USA. We will also continue our dialogue on regional developments and contemporary global issues," the PM said.

The newly-elected Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will be joining the Quad Leaders' Summit for the first time.

"I look forward to a bilateral meeting with him during which the multifaceted cooperation between India and Australia under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and regional and global issues of mutual interest will be discussed," the PM said. (UNI)