PM Modi's strong push for India-China ties ahead of key visit: 'Given current volatility ...'

The PM addressed the India-Japan Economic Forum in Tokyo.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India and China, as two major economies, must work together to bring stability to the world economic order.

In an interview with Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun, the PM said, “Given the current volatility in the world economy, it is also important for India and China, as two major economies, to work together to bring stability to the world economic order,” he said.

The PM addressed the India-Japan Economic Forum in Tokyo. The Japan visit, which runs through August 30, will be followed by a trip to China. PM Modi is scheduled to attend the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Tianjin on August 31 and September 1. He is also likely to hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday.

PM Modi told Yomiuri Shimbun that since his meeting with President Xi in Kazan last year, steady and positive progress has been made in India-China bilateral ties.

"Stable, predictable, and amicable bilateral relations between India and China, as two neighbours and the two largest nations on earth, can have a positive impact on regional and global peace and prosperity. This is also crucial for a multi-polar Asia and a multi-polar world," he said.

The PM said India is ready to advance bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective on the basis of mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity, and to enhance strategic communication to address our developmental challenges.

He also said  India and Japan are not just two close partners. "We are ancient civilizations, vibrant democracies and leading economies. We share a common strategic outlook. Over the past decade, our ties have scaled new heights since they were elevated to Special Strategic and Global Partnership. The annual Summit itself is testament to the maturity and vibrancy of our ties," the PM said.

According to the PM, the India-Japan partnership is unique. It spans millennia of cultural bonds, and is now shaping the contours of the 21st century. We are working together on new and emerging technologies, with semiconductor being one of them," said PM Modi.

According to him,  India’s semiconductor sector is on the cusp of transformation.  "Already, six semiconductor units are taking root in India, with four more on the way. By the end of this very year, 'Made in India' chips will be in the market, a clear demonstration of India’s design and manufacturing capabilities. Japanese companies, with their technological strengths and global leadership, can play a pivotal role in this journey. A strong beginning has already been made. By combining India’s scale and capabilities with Japan’s advanced technologies, we can build a resilient and trusted semiconductor value chain," he said.

PM Modi said India-Japan collaboration will support the technological ambitions of both our countries, and enhance global supply chain security. "I see semiconductor cooperation emerging as a major pillar of the India–Japan partnership," he said.