Japan PM Sanae Takaichi gets Guard of Honour at Rashtrapati Bhavan

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday as she began the official engagements of her three-day visit to India, ahead of bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit.Prime Minister Modi warmly welcomed Takaichi at Rashtrapati Bhavan before the two leaders were scheduled to hold wide-ranging discussions aimed at reviewing and expanding the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership. The summit is expected to focus on strengthening cooperation across defence, economic security, trade, investment, technology, infrastructure, and regional as well as global issues of mutual interest.

#WATCH | Delhi: Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi receives a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also present.

(Source: DD News) pic.twitter.com/VsirfTn2CV

— ANI (@ANI) July 2, 2026

According to agency reports, Takaichi arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday evening on her first official visit to India since assuming office as Japan's Prime Minister. She was received at Palam Air Force Station by Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh.Welcoming the Japanese Prime Minister, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the visit marks another significant step in advancing the Special Strategic and Global Partnership between the two countries.Prime Minister Modi also extended a warm welcome to Takaichi upon her arrival, expressing confidence that the discussions would further deepen bilateral ties and open new avenues of cooperation between India and Japan.

ようこそ、インドへ, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi!

A very warm welcome to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi of Japan who arrives in New Delhi on an Official Visit. PM Takaichi was received by MoS @DrJitendraSingh.

The visit marks an important step in taking forward the Special… pic.twitter.com/N4mvBcWvu4

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) July 1, 2026

Japan, too, acknowledged the reception, with the Japanese Cabinet Public Relations Office expressing gratitude for the warm welcome and describing the visit as an important opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations.Ahead of her departure from Tokyo, Takaichi highlighted the growing importance of closer cooperation with India amid an evolving global geopolitical landscape. She said her discussions with Prime Minister Modi would focus on three key priorities—deepening the strategic partnership, enhancing cooperation in economic security, and expanding business collaboration to promote investment and innovation.She also announced that the Japan-India Economic Forum, being held alongside her visit, would bring together representatives from more than 150 Japanese companies and business organisations to explore new investment opportunities and strengthen private-sector partnerships."Working together with the private sector, I hope to broaden the scope of Japan-India cooperation and realise a strong economy," Takaichi had said before leaving Japan.Emphasising the strategic significance of bilateral ties, the Japanese Prime Minister noted that India and Japan, as two leading democracies in Asia, share a common responsibility for ensuring peace, stability, and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific region.She said the summit would include detailed discussions on advancing the vision of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP), including cooperation through the Quad framework, while also helping deepen mutual trust between the two leaders.
Japanese Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masanao Ozaki, who is accompanying Takaichi during the visit, said participation by over 150 Japanese companies in the Japan-India Economic Forum reflects growing business interest in India. He added that the visit is expected to further strengthen government-to-government cooperation in areas including security, economic security, and strategic partnerships.