Jaishankar terms Japan ‘moderniser’, credits it for Metro revolution in India

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Friday talked about the importance of Japan in India’s development journey and what the ties between the two countries mean for each other. Terming Japan an “exemplary moderniser”, the Union minister credited Japan for being an important player in the modernisation of India and said, “Japan has truly unleashed the revolution in India.” 

Answering ‘what really does Japan mean to India’, Jaishankar while addressing the India-Japan Forum said, “Japan is in many ways the exemplary moderniser. It is an example of relevance. It’s also a country for which there is a lot of goodwill in history.”

“Today under PM Modi, we also had great modernisation. A self-reliant India. Japan is a natural partnership in this modernising India. Japan has truly unleashed the revolution in India,” he added. 

Exemplifying the technological development shared between both the countries, Jaishankar listed various revolutions and said, “The Suzuki revolution was the first revolution that transformed India. The second revolution was the metro revolution. The third revolution is the high-speed rail in making. The fourth revolution is in critical and emerging technologies and semiconductors.” 

Spoke at the India-Japan Forum today in New Delhi. Appreciate my colleague FM Yoshi Hayashi’s thought provoking ideas and views.

Made the following 6 points:

1.For India, Japan is the modernising inspiration that is particularly relevant as the Modi Government advances… pic.twitter.com/h7ayNPRd5u

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 28, 2023

India an indispensable partner for free and open Indo-Pacific: Japan

Stating that India is very keen to work hand-in-hand with India, the Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said that India is an indispensable partner to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific and, therefore, Tokyo is interested in expanding its cooperation in the region with New Delhi. Notably, Hayashi arrived in Delhi on Thursday (July 27) on a two-day visit. The last time the Japanese Foreign Minister met Jaishankar was at the Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting, held in March 2023.

Hayashi further added that Japan is working closely with India to make its G20 presidency successful, especially in the upcoming summit of the intergovernmental forum.