Tokyo, Japan – July 28, 2025 – India’s Ambassador to Japan, Sibi George, met with Japan’s Minister for Economic Security, Minoru Kiuchi, today, to discuss avenues for further bolstering the “India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership.” The discussions specifically centered on enhancing cooperation in the critical fields of economic security, space, and science and technology.
The Indian Embassy in Japan confirmed the meeting on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Ambassador @AmbSibiGeorge welcomed H.E. Mr. Minoru Kiuchi, Hon’ble Minister for Economic Security of Japan, at India House, and discussed strengthening further India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership, particularly in areas of economic security, space, and science & technology.”
This high-level meeting is the latest in a series of diplomatic and strategic engagements between India and Japan, underscoring their shared commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation across various sectors. The “Special Strategic and Global Partnership” between India and Japan, elevated to this status in 2014, signifies a comprehensive and multifaceted relationship built on converging political, economic, and strategic interests.
Just this week, the Indian Embassy in Tokyo hosted an event titled “IPOI: India-Japan Partnership in Maritime Connectivity.” Ambassador Sibi George delivered the inaugural remarks, joined by notable figures including Japan’s former Defence Minister and MP Minoru Kihara, India’s Secretary (East) P. Kumaran, and Shingo Miyamoto, Director General at Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The discussions focused on strengthening maritime linkages across the Indo-Pacific region, a key area of shared strategic interest.
Last month, India’s Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, held talks with Terada Yoshimichi, Japan’s Vice Minister for International Affairs, in Oslo. Their discussions explored expanding maritime cooperation, including potential Japanese investments in Indian shipyards, the development of digital port systems, green technology initiatives, and the sustainable development of islands in India’s Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep regions.
The close ties between the two nations were also evident in April 2025, when Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba called Prime Minister Narendra Modi to offer condolences following a terror attack in Pahalgam, India. Both PM Ishiba and Foreign Minister Iwaya had previously issued public messages of sympathy.
High-level exchanges have been consistent between India and Japan. In October 2024, Prime Minister Modi met with Prime Minister Ishiba on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Laos, where they reviewed cooperation in infrastructure, connectivity, and defense. Strategic dialogues have also continued, with the 17th India-Japan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue and the 3rd 2+2 Ministerial Meeting held in New Delhi in August 2024. These meetings consistently reiterate the two countries’ shared vision for peace, maritime security, and economic growth in the Indo-Pacific region.
Cooperation in science and technology between India and Japan is formalized through an Inter-Governmental Agreement signed in 1985. Joint initiatives in space cooperation, including the India-Japan Joint Science and Technology Committee, have been ongoing, with ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) exploring collaboration in areas like earth observation, lunar missions, and satellite navigation. Economic security has become an increasingly important pillar, with discussions focusing on resilient supply chains and collaboration in emerging technologies like 5G, IoT, and AI.