PM Modi speaks with Japanese counterpart Mr Suga Yoshihide

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a fruitful conversation with his Japanese counterpart Mr. Suga Yoshihide on the progress of India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership, yesterday. The two leaders expressed satisfaction at the positive momentum in India-Japan Special Strategic & Global Partnership in the last few years, guided by mutual trust and shared values.

They appreciated that bilateral exchanges were maintained over the last year despite the COVID-19 pandemic. They also welcomed the recent signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation on Specified Skilled Workers (SSW) and looked forward to its early implementation. Prime Minister Modi noted the Mumbai Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) project as a shining example of India-Japan bilateral strategic partnership and expressed his commitment to



its successful implementation.

The two leaders further exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest and concurred that the partnership between the two countries could play a pivotal role in addressing common challenges. In this regard, they emphasized that their engagement with like-minded countries such as Australia and the U.S. in the form of QUAD consultations holds value and agreed that these useful discussions must continue.

The leaders agreed to celebrate in a befitting manner, the 70th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries that falls in 2022. Prime Minister Modi invited his Japanese Counterpart to visit India at the earliest for the Annual Bilateral Summit.