Japan-India Relations
Japan-India Relations (Basic Data)
History
Exchange between Japan and India is said to have begun in the 6th century when Buddhism was introduced to Japan. Indian culture, filtered through Buddhism, has had a great impact on Japanese culture, and this is the source of the Japanese people's sense of closeness to India.
After World War II, in 1949, Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru donated an Indian elephant to the Ueno Zoo in Tokyo. This brought a ray of light into the lives of the Japanese people who still had not recovered from defeat in the war. Japan and India signed a peace treaty and established diplomatic relations on 28th April, 1952. This treaty was one of the first peace treaties Japan signed after World War II.
Ever since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries have enjoyed cordial relations. In the post World War II period, India's iron ore helped a great deal Japan's recovery from the devastation. Following Japanese Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi's visit to India in 1957, Japan started providing yen loans to India in 1958, as the first yen loan aid extended by Japanese government.
Recent Relations
Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori’s visit to India in August 2000 provided the momentum to strengthen the Japan-India relationship. Mr. Mori and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee decided the establishment of "Global Partnership between Japan and India". Since Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s visit to India in April 2005, Japan-India annual summit meetings have been held in respective capitals. When Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Japan in December 2006, Japan-India relationship was elevated to the "Global and Strategic Partnership". In September 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid an official visit to Japan and had a summit meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. They concurred to upgrade the bilateral relationship to “Special Strategic and Global Partnership.” In December 2015, Prime Minister Abe paid an official visit to India and had a summit meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two Prime Ministers resolved to transform the Japan-India Special Strategic and Global Partnership into a deep, broad-based and action-oriented partnership, which reflects a broad convergence of their long-term political, economic and strategic goals. They announced “Japan and India Vision 2025 Special Strategic and Global Partnership Working Together for Peace and Prosperity of the Indo-Pacific Region and the World”, a joint statement that would serve as a guide post for the “new era in Japan-India relations.”
In November 2016, Prime Minister Modi paid an official visit to Japan and had a summit meeting with Prime Minister Abe. In the Japan-India Vision Statement issued during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Japan in October 2018, two leaders reiterated their unwavering commitment to working together towards a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific”.
In September 2021, Prime Minister Suga, who was visiting Washington D.C. for the Second Japan-Australia-India-U.S. Summit Meeting, held a summit meeting with Prime Minister Modi. In October 2021, Prime Minister Kishida held a summit telephone talk with Prime Minister Modi, soon after Prime Minister Kishida’s taking office. In March 2022, Prime Minister Kishida visited India for the first time in four and a half years as Prime Minister of Japan. In May 2022, Prime Minister Modi visited Japan for the Japan-Australia-India-U.S. Summit Meeting held in Japan. Prime Minister Modi visited Japan again for attending the state funeral for former Prime Minister Abe. In March 2023, Prime Minister Kishida visited India and held Japan-India Summit Meeting with Prime Minister Modi. The two leaders confirmed their commitment to discuss and work together on various issues in the international community in the lead-up to both the G7 and G20 summits and concurred to further develop Japan-India relations and work closely toward the realisation of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific”.
Cooperation in Security Fields
During Prime Minister Singh’s visit to Japan in October 2008, two leaders issued "the Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation between Japan and India". There are also various frameworks of security and defense dialogue between Japan and India including Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting (“2+2” meeting), annual Defense Ministerial Dialogue and Coast Guard-to-Coast Guard dialogue. In September 2022, the second ”2+2” meeting was held in Tokyo.
On September 9th 2020, the Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of the Republic of India Concerning Reciprocal Provision of Supplies and Services between the Self-Defense Forces of Japan and the Indian Armed Forces (so-called “Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement” or ACSA) was signed. ACSA came into force on July 11th, 2021.
Economic Relations
In recent years, economic relationship between Japan and India have steadily expanded and deepened. The volume of trade between the two countries has increased. India was the 18th largest trading partner for Japan, and Japan was the 13th largest trading partner for India in 2021. Also, direct investment from Japan to India has been increased, and Japan was the 5th largest investor for India in FY2021. Japanese private-sector's interest in India is rising, and, currently, about 1,439 Japanese companies have branches in India in 2021.
At recent summit meetings, The two leaders confirmed that they will promote active investment by Japanese companies in India in light of the 5-trillion-yen target of public and private investment and financing from Japan to India over the next 5 years, which was set on the occasion of Prime Minister Kishida’s visit to India in March 2022, while also concurring on the importance of the Indian side further improving the business environment for smooth operations of Japanese companies in India, including cooperation for the diversification and enhancement of supply chains through the "India-Japan Industrial Competitiveness Partnership". The two leaders also concurred to promote the "Clean Energy Partnership" announced during Prime Minister Kishida's visit to India in March 2022 to achieve carbon neutrality and ensure energy security at the global level, and to promote concrete cooperation in the areas of hydrogen, ammonia and LNG through the "Japan-India Energy Ministerial Dialogue" and other initiatives.
Year | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Trade from India to Japan | 544 | 348 | 499 | 543 | 559 | 690 | 739 | 589 | 509 | 619 | 585 | 593 | 500 | 744 |
Trade from Japan to India | 819 | 591 | 792 | 882 | 845 | 839 | 861 | 981 | 889 | 1,044 | 1,236 | 1,176 | 1,021 | 1,423 |
(source: Japanese government documents)
Year | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Direct Investment from Japan | 282 | 368 | 564 | 357 | 371 | 522 | 214 | 493 | 471 |
(source: Japanese government documents)
Economic Assistance
India has been the largest recipient of Japanese ODA Loan for the past decades. Delhi Metro is one of the most successful examples of Japanese cooperation through the utilization of ODA. Japan continues to cooperate in supporting strategic connectivity linking South Asia to Southeast Asia through the synergy between ''Act East'' policy and ''Partnership for Quality Infrastructure.''
Besides, Japan and India had committed to build High-Speed Railway in India by introducing Japan’s Shinkansen System, which is the flagship project of Japan-India relation.
- Loan: 312.25 billion yen (FY 2021)
- Grants: 4.67 billion yen (FY 2021)
- Technical Cooperation: 8.5 billion yen (FY 2021)
Cultural Relations
The year 2012 marked the 60th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Japan and India. Various cultural events took place both in Japan and in India to promote mutual understanding between the two countries, under the theme of “Resurgent Japan, Vibrant India: New Perspectives, New Exchanges.”
During the visit of Prime Minister Modi to Japan in November 2016, the two Prime Ministers declared the year 2017 the Year of Japan-India Friendly Exchanges to further enhance people-to-people exchanges between Japan and India. The year 2017 also marked the 60th anniversary since the Cultural Agreement came into force in 1957. Various commemorating events took place in both countries.
In 2022, Japan celebrates anniversaries with the seven countries of Southwest Asia, including India. Japan has designated 2022 as “Japan-Southwest Asia Exchange Year” with the aim of taking Japan’s relations with the countries of Southwest Asia to new heights.
Number of Residents
- Number of Japanese nationals residing in India: 8,145 (as of October, 2022)
- Number of Indian nationals residing in Japan: 40,752 (as of June, 2022)
Bilateral Treaties and Agreements
- Treaty of Peace (1952)
- Agreement for Air Service (1956)
- Cultural Agreement (1957)
- Agreement of Commerce (1958)
- Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation (1960)
- Agreement on Cooperation in the field of Science and Technology (1985)
- Japan-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (2011)
- Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of the Republic of India Concerning the Transfer of Defence Equipment and Technology (2015)
- Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of the Republic of India Concerning Security Measures for the Protection of Classified Military Information (2015)
- Agreement between Japan and the Republic of India on Social Security (2016)
- Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of the Republic of India for Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy (2017)
- Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of the Republic of India Concerning Reciprocal Provision of Supplies and Services between the Self-Defense Forces of Japan and the Indian Armed Forces (2021)
VIP Visits
Year | Name |
---|---|
1980 | Mr. Ito, Minister for Foreign Affairs |
1982 | Mr. Sakurauchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs |
1984 | Mr. Nakasone, Prime Minister |
1984 | Mr. Abe, Minister for Foreign Affairs |
1987 | Mr. Kuranari, Minister for Foreign Affairs |
1990 | Mr. Kaifu, Prime Minister |
1990 | Mr. Hashimoto, Minister of Finance |
1995 | Mr. Hashimoto, Minister of International Trade and Industry |
1997 | Mr. Ikeda, Minister for Foreign Affairs |
2000 | Mr. Fukaya, Minister of International Trade and Industry |
2000 | Mr. Mori, Prime Minister |
2003 | Ms. Kawaguchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs |
2003 | Mr. Ishiba, Minister of State for Defense |
2004 | Ms. Kawaguchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs |
2004 | Mr. Nakagawa, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry |
2004 | Mr. Motegi, Minister of State for Information and Technology |
2005 | Mr. Tanigaki, Minister of Finance |
2005 | Mr. Takenaka, Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy |
2005 | Mr. Nakagawa, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry |
2005 | Mr. Ishikawa, Commandant of Coast Guard |
2005 | Mr. Koizumi, Prime Minister |
2005 | Mr. Aso, Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications |
2006 | Mr. Aso, Minister for Foreign Affairs |
2006 | Mr. Tanigaki, Minister of Finance |
2006 | Mr. Kitagawa, Minister for Land, Infrastructure and Transport |
2006 | Mr. Ishikawa, Commandant of Coasr Guard |
2007 | Mr. Suga, Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications |
2007 | Mr. Aso, Minister for Foreign Affairs |
2007 | Mr. Amari, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry |
2007 | Mr. Matsuoka, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries |
2007 | Mr. Fuyushiba, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport |
2007 | Mr. Amari, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry |
2007 | Mr. Abe, Prime Minister |
2007 | Ms. Koike, Minister of Defense |
2008 | Mr. Nukaga, Minister of Finance |
2008 | Mr. Koumura, Minister for Foreign Affairs |
2009 | Mr. Ozawa, Minister of the Environment |
2009 | Mr. Hatoyama, Prime Minister |
2010 | Mr. Haraguchi, Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications |
2010 | Mr. Suzuki, Commandant of Coast Guard |
2010 | Mr. Naoshima, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry |
2010 | Mr. Kitazawa, Minister of Defense |
2010 | Mr. Okada, Minister for Foreign Affairs |
2011 | Mr. Noda, Prime Minister |
2012 | Mr. Edano, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry |
2012 | Mr. Maeda, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism |
2012 | Mr. Suzuki, Commandant of Coast Guard |
2012 | Mr. Gemba, Minister of Foreign Affairs |
2012 | Mr. Edano, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry |
2012 | Mr. Jimi, State Minister in charge of Financial and Postal Issues |
2013 | Mr. Aso, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, Minister of State for Financial Services |
2013 | Mr. Kiuchi, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs |
2013 | Mr. Motegi, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry |
2013 | Mr. Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs |
2013 | Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress |
2014 | Mr. Onodera, Minister of Defense |
2014 | Mr. Abe, Prime Minister |
2014 | Mr. Shimomura, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology |
2014 | Mr. Ohta, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism |
2015 | Mr. Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs |
2015 | Mr. Miyazawa, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry |
2015 | Mr. Sonoura, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs |
2015 | Mr. Kiuchi, State Minister for Foreign Affairs |
2015 | Mr. Abe, Prime Minister |
2016 | Mr. Hase, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology |
2016 | Mr. Nakatani, Minister of Defense |
2017 | Mr. Seko, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry |
2017 | Mr. Takei, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs |
2017 | Mr. Abe, Prime Minister |
2017 | Mr. Horii, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs |
2018 | Mr. Okamoto, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs |
2018 | Mr. Nakane, State Minister for Foreign Affairs |
2018 | Mr. Seko, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Mr. Onodera, Minister of Defense |
2019 | Mr. Kono, Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Motegi, Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy Mr. Yamashita, Minister of Justice Mr. Date, President, House of Councilors Ms. Katayama, Minister of State for Regional Revitalization Mr. Motegi, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Mr. Kono, Minister of Defense Mr. Kajiyama, Minister of Economics, Trade and Industry |
2022 | Mr. Kishida, Prime Minister |
2023 | Mr. Akihiro Nishimura, Minister of the Environment Mr. Suzuki, Minister of Finance Mr. Hayashi, Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Kono, Minister for Digital Transformation Mr. Kishida, Prime Minister |
Year | Name |
---|---|
1982 | Ms. Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister |
1982 | Mr. Rao, Minister for External Affairs |
1985 | Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, Prime Minister |
1986 | Mr. Tiwali, Minister for External Affairs |
1987 | Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, Prime Minister |
1987 | Mr. Tiwali, Minister for External Affairs |
1988 | Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, Prime Minister |
1988 | Mr. Rao, Minister for Industry |
1989 | Mr. Venkataraman, President |
1989 | Mr. Rao, Minister for External Affairs |
1990 | Mr. Venkataraman, President |
1990 | Mr. Ajit Singh, Minister for Industry |
1990 | Mr. Nehru, Minister for Commerce and Tourism |
1991 | Mr. Sinha, Minister for Finance |
1992 | Mr. Rao, Prime Minister |
1992 | Mr. Solanki, Minister for External Affairs |
1992 | Dr. Manmohan Singh, Finance Minister |
1993 | Dr. Manmohan Singh, Finance Minister |
1995 | Mr. Narayanan, Vice-President |
1995 | Mr. Mukherjee, Minister for External Affairs |
1996 | Mr. Chidambaram, Minister for Finance |
1998 | Mr. Balayogi, Speaker of the Lok Sabha |
1998 | Mr. Bakht, Minister for Industry |
1999 | Mr. Jaswant Singh, Minister for External Affairs |
2000 | Mr. Fernandes, Minister for Defense |
2001 | Mr. Mahajan, Minister for Information Technology |
2001 | Mr. Vajpayee, Prime Minister |
2002 | Mr. Fernandes, Minister for Defense |
2002 | Mr. Shourie, Minister for Disinvestment |
2003 | Mr. Jaitley, Minister for Commerce, Industry, Law and Justice |
2003 | Mr. Ajit Singh, Minister for Agriculture |
2003 | Mr. Mishra, National Security Advisor |
2003 | Mr. Shourie, Minister for Information Technology |
2004 | Mr. Chatterjee, Speaker of the Lok Sabha |
2005 | Mr. Maran, Minister for Communication and Information Technology |
2005 | Mr. Nath, Minister for Commerce and Industry |
2005 | Mr. Elangovan, Minister for Commerce and Industry |
2005 | Mr. Aiyar, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas |
2005 | Ms. Chowdhury, Minister for Tourism |
2005 | Mr. Singh, Inspector General of Indian Coast Guard |
2006 | Mr. Chidambara, Minister for Finance |
2006 | Mr. Mukherjee, Minister for Defense |
2006 | Mr. Nath, Minister for Commerce and Industry |
2006 | Mr. Shinde, Minister for Power |
2006 | Mr. Raja, Minister for Environment and Forests |
2006 | Mr. Paswan, Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers |
2006 | Mr. Sibal, Minister for Science & Technology; Ocean Development |
2006 | Mr. Narayanan, National Security Adviser |
2006 | Mr. Nath, Minister for Commerce and Industry |
2006 | Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister |
2007 | Mr. Mukherjee, Minister for External Affairs |
2007 | Mr. Vaghela, Minister for Textile |
2007 | Mr. Nath, Minister for Commerce and Industry |
2007 | Mr. Contractor, Inspector General of Indian Coast Guard |
2007 | Mr. Kumar, Minister of State for Industry |
2007 | Mr. Soni, Minister of Tourism and Culture |
2007 | Mr. Reddy, Minister of Urban Development |
2008 | Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister |
2008 | Mr. Nath, Minister for Commerce and Industry |
2009 | Mr. Chidambaram, Principal Scientific Advisor |
2009 | Mr. Prasad, Minister of Railways |
2009 | Mr. Krishna, Minister for External Affairs |
2009 | Mr. Maran, Minister for Textile |
2009 | Mr. Narayanan, National Security Adviser |
2009 | Mr. Antony, Minister for Defense |
2010 | Mr. Nath, Minister of Road Transport & Highways |
2010 | Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister |
2010 | Mr. Chopra, Inspector General of Indian Coast Guard |
2011 | Mr. Bansal, Minister of Parliament Affairs |
2011 | Mr. Sharna, Minister of Commerce and Industry |
2011 | Ms. Kumar, Speaker of Lower House |
2011 | Mr. Krishna, Minister for External Affairs |
2011 | Mr. Antony, Minister for Defense |
2012 | Mr. Sahai, Minister of Tourism |
2012 | Mr. Nath, Minister for Urban Development |
2012 | Mr. Shashidhar Reddy, Vice Chairman, National Disaster Management Authority(NDMA) |
2012 | Mr. Krishna, Minister of External Affairs |
2012 | Mr. Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat |
2012 | Mr. Alagiri, Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers |
2013 | MP Muralidharan, Director General of Indian Coast Guard |
2013 | Mr. Sibal, Minister of Communications and Information Technology |
2013 | Mr. Khurshid, Minister of External Affairs |
2013 | Mr. Chidambaram, Minister of Finance |
2013 | Mr. Sharma, Minister of Commerce and Industry |
2013 | Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister |
2013 | Dr. Kumar, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of India |
2013 | Mr. Moily, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas |
2013 | Mr. Vasan, Minister of Shipping |
2013 | Mr. Rao, Minister of Textile |
2014 | Mr. Modi, Prime Minister |
2014 | Mr. Naik, Minister of Culture |
2015 | Mr. Singh, Minister of Home Affairs |
2015 | Mr. Parrikar, Minister of Defense |
2015 | Mr. Sinha, Minister of State for Finance |
2015 | Mr. Prabhu, Minister of Railways |
2016 | Mr. Goyal, Minister of State with Independent Charge for Power, Col and New & Renewable Energy |
2016 | Mr. Rijiju, Minister of State for Home affairs |
2016 | Dr. Panagariya, Vice-Chairman, NITI Aayog |
2016 | Mr. Thakur, Chief justice of India |
2016 | Mr. Jaitley, Minister for Finance |
2016 | Mr. Modi, Prime Minister |
2016 | Mrs. Sitharaman, Minister of Commerce and Industry |
2017 | Mr. Jaitley, Minister of Finance, Corporate Affairs and Defence [note] Twice |
2018 | Ms. Swaraj, Minister of External Affairs |
2018 | Mr. Modi, Prime Minister |
2019 | Mr. Modi, Prime Minister and Dr. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs |
2019 | Mr. Singh, Minister of Defence |
2019 | Dr. Vardhan, Minister of Health and Family Welfare |
2019 | Mr. Kovind, President |
2019 | Mr. Pradhan, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Steel |
2019 | Dr. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs |
2020 | Dr. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs |
2022 | Mr. Modi, Prime Minister and Dr. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs |
2022 | Dr. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs and Mr. Singh, Minister of Defence |
2022 | Mr. Modi, Prime Minister |
2023 | Mr. Bhupender Yadav, Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change |
2023 | Mr. Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Railways, Communications, Electronics and IT |