New Delhi, August 26 (HS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on an official visit to Japan on the evening of August 28, where he will hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba during the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit scheduled for August 29–30. Following his Japan trip, Modi will travel to Tianjin, China, to attend the 25th Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Heads of State on August 31 and September 1.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri informed reporters on Tuesday that several bilateral meetings have also been lined up on the margins of the SCO summit, though the schedule is still being finalized. Meanwhile, Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (West) Tanmay Lal said the SCO programme includes a welcome banquet on the evening of August 31 and the main summit deliberations on September 1.
Responding to questions on terrorism, Lal reiterated that combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism has been the SCO’s core objective since its inception. He said cross-border terrorism remains a key concern, and the upcoming summit declaration is also expected to reflect a strong emphasis on countering the menace.
The multilateral grouping currently includes 10 member states—India, Belarus, China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan—besides partner and observer countries. The SCO Secretariat is based in Beijing, while its Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure operates from Tashkent.
Foreign Secretary Misri highlighted that this will be Modi’s first independent bilateral visit to Japan in nearly seven years, with his last trip there for the annual summit taking place in 2018. Since becoming Prime Minister, it will mark his eighth visit to Japan. Modi and Ishiba have held interactions at previous multilateral fora, and the upcoming Tokyo summit will serve to deepen discussions.
Underscoring the breadth of the partnership, Misri said India and Japan share democratic values and a convergent strategic outlook, with collaboration spanning trade, investment, defence, science, technology, infrastructure, cultural exchanges, and people-to-people ties. The leaders are expected to review ongoing initiatives and launch new projects across these sectors.
Bilateral defence cooperation has particularly strengthened, Misri noted. At the India-Japan Defence Ministers’ Meeting in May 2025, both sides deliberated on cooperation in defence equipment and technology. Under the Unicorn Project, India and Japan are jointly developing a radar mast system, while their navies are examining opportunities for collaboration in ship maintenance. Continuous interactions are also underway between India’s DRDO and Japan’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA).
On space cooperation, Misri said the two countries’ space agencies are jointly working on the Lunar Polar Exploration Mission, linked to India’s upcoming Chandrayaan-5 project, creating new avenues for Indian space start-ups.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
