On September 8, 2025, India Foundation organised a closed-door briefing with the Hon’ble Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to India and the Kingdom of Bhutan, H.E. Mr. ONO Keiichi. The briefing was focussed on the outcomes and opportunities from the two-day visit of India’s Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to Japan from August 29-30, 2025, as well as his meeting with his Japanese counterpart, the then-Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. The briefing was chaired by Captain Alok Bansal, Executive Vice President of India Foundation, who welcomed the Ambassador and introduced the subject of the briefing. The briefing was attended by distinguished guests, including former military commanders, former diplomats, defence experts, journalists, and policy analysts with particular interest in the trajectory of Indo-Japan relations.
The discussions took place under Chatham House rules and, set against the backdrop of PM Modi’s visit to Japan, encompassed the whole gamut of the bilateral relationship. They focussed on the aspects of continuity and the expansion of the Special Strategic and Global Partnership in its 10th year. The briefing dwelled on the mutual complementarities explored during the visit, and the need for adopting a collaborative outlook on economic and security matters to provide clearer impetus to their strategic partnership. The discussions emphasised on the need for stronger cooperation in international institutions to weather the headwinds in geopolitics. The delegates concurred that the following Conference of Parties in Brazil will provide a critical platform for negotiations for just decarbonisation and climate financing pathways.
The briefing identified the potential for boosting private investment from Japan into India and the opportunities in India’s business environment, especially in its Northeast. The dignitaries also drove their attention to the strides made in technical and financial collaboration in high-speed rail mobility, as well as the potential for cooperation in next-generation mobility, meeting the countries’ climate targets, and achieving integrated spatial development in the areas served. The discussants explored opportunities in micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs), building resilient supply chains and logistical channels, and defence. The discussions also ranged the regional shifts in South Asia, Africa, and East Asia, and the potential for concerted action of Japan and India to provide solutions to shared problems.
The meeting ended on an optimistic note, as the participants lauded the progress of the bilateral partnership and expressed hope for the two countries to participate in each other’s economic development. After a lively round of Q/As, the Ambassador was felicitated by Air Marshal (Retd) PK Roy, Member, Governing Council, India Foundation.
