Japanese PM in India with an eye on trade
As part of the larger Indo-Pacific Economic Framework announced last year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart are slated to announce measures on clean energy, digital trade, and infrastructure.
-
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomes his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida upon his arrival in New Delhi on March 19, 2022. (AP)
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrived in India on Monday for talks aimed at strengthening trade and technological relations, as well as voicing concerns about China.
The Quad alliance, which includes India, Japan, the United States, and Australia, presents itself as a bulwark against China's growing influence in Asia under President Xi Jinping.
Kishida's visit comes less than a fortnight after his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese was hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for talks on China and strengthening economic ties.
Albanese, who is also strengthening ties with the US and the UK through the separate AUKUS alliance, is set to welcome all Quad leaders in May.
The Quad members deny any aggressive intentions and claim that they are not a military alliance, but China has characterized it as an attempt to encircle it.
As part of the larger Indo-Pacific Economic Framework announced last year, Modi and Kishida were slated to announce measures on clean energy, digital trade, and infrastructure.
According to media sources, Kishida, the current G7 president, was also slated to invite Modi to the grouping's May summit.
It is worth noting that India presently holds the Group of 20's alternating chairmanship.
See more: What is the 4-nation Quad?
