Daijiworld Media Network – Tokyo

Tokyo, Aug 29: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced a landmark collaboration between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for the upcoming Chandrayaan-5 mission.

“We welcome the collaboration between ISRO and JAXA for the Chandrayaan-5 mission. Our active participation has gone beyond the limits of the earth and will become a symbol of mankind's progress in space,” PM Modi said during a joint press briefing with his Japanese counterpart Shigeru Ishiba in Tokyo.

Calling India and Japan “natural partners” in shaping a better world, Modi said, “We agree that as the two largest economies of the world and living democracies, our partnership is essential not just for the two countries but also for global peace and security.” He described his talks with Ishiba as “productive” and “purposeful.”

The joint statement released by the two leaders stressed strengthening of economic and security cooperation, with Modi outlining a roadmap for the next decade of the “special strategic and global partnership.”

“In the center of our vision lie investment, innovation, economic security, environment, technology, health, mobility and people-to-people exchanges. We have set a goal of investment of 10 trillion yen from Japan in India in the next 10 years,” the Prime Minister said, while highlighting plans to link small and medium enterprises and startups of both countries.

He further announced cooperation in high technology, particularly semiconductors and rare earth minerals, adding that both nations were moving ahead with Digital Partnership 2.0 and an AI Cooperation Initiative.