Japanese PM Takaichi’s proposed India trip in July to focus on energy supplies; critical minerals

New Delhi: Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is exploring the possibility of making her first visit to India as the PM in July for the annual Summit as Tokyo intensifies engagement across Asia to counter China, However, visit dates will depend on Japan’s Parliament (Diet) session.

Takaichi may visit Assam during the trip. It may be recalled that Takaichi’s mentor Shinzo Abe had planned to visit the Northeastern state as the PM but the visit could not materialize due to logistics issues. The Japanese Foreign Minister during his recent India trip held detailed discussions on the evolving defence partnership and economic security cooperation.
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“The government is arranging a visit by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to India early next month, when she will hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” leading Japanese media The Yomiuri Shimbun reported on Friday quoting government sources.

“The visit is aimed at strengthening cooperation in such areas as security, bearing in mind China’s increasing economic pressure on other nations. The government will make its final decision on the dates for the visit after assessing the Diet’s schedule and other factors,” according to The Yomiuri Shimbun.

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If realized, the trip will be Takaichi’s first to India since she took office. The goal is to establish a pattern of reciprocal visits, in which Japanese and Indian leaders travel to each other’s countries, following Modi’s visit to Japan in August last year, according to The Yomiuri Shimbun.
The two PMs are also expected to discuss the stable supply of energy amid the Iran war and strengthening supply chains for critical minerals, ET has learnt.

This month, Takaichi is expected to visit Britain and Italy, trips that will coincide with her participation in a Group of Seven summit in Evian in eastern France from June 15. She is expected to hold separate meetings with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on June 14 and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni the next day, according to The Yomiuri Shimbun.