By India Today News Desk: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held bilateral talks with his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida. The talks between the two leaders took place on the sidelines of the summit of the Group of Seven (G7) advanced economies in Hiroshima.

While India presently holds the presidency of the G20 grouping, Japan is the chair of the G7.

During their interaction, PM Modi and Fumio Kishida focussed on ways to synergise efforts under G-7 and G-20 presidencies to deal with various global challenges.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi described the talks between Modi and Kishida as “warm” and “productive”.

“PM @narendramodi and PM @kishida230 of Japan held warm and productive talks,” Bagchi said on Twitter.

“Discussed ways to synergise efforts of respective G-7 and G-20 Presidencies, and the need to highlight the voice of Global South. Also exchanged views on contemporary regional developments and on deepening cooperation in the Indo-Pacific,” he said.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, this was Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s second meeting with his Japanese counterpart, Fumio Kishida. Prime Minister Kishida visited India in March this year.

During their interaction, PM Narendra Modi thanked Prime Minister Kishida for planting the Bodhi sapling in Hiroshima that had been gifted by Prime Minister Modi in March 2023.

PM Modi noted that the Indian Parliament commemorates every year and said Japanese diplomats were always present on the occasion.

The Ministry of External Affairs stated that the two leaders exchanged views on contemporary regional developments. They also discussed deepening cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

Both the prime ministers agreed on ways to further strengthen the bilateral Special Strategic and Global Partnership, the EAM stated.

Their discussions focused on the areas of education, skill development, tourism, Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE), green hydrogen, high technology, semiconductors and digital public infrastructure.

Combating terrorism and reform of the United Nations was also discussed between the two leaders, the EAM stated.

PM MODI’s VISIT TO JAPAN

Modi arrived in Hiroshima on Friday on the first leg of his three-nation trip to Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia and is expected to take part in over 40 engagements.

In his departure statement, the prime minister had said he was looking forward to exchanging views with the G7 countries and other invited partners on challenges that the world faces and the need to collectively address them.

Modi is visiting Hiroshima from May 19 to 21 primarily for the annual summit of the G7 advanced economies in which he is expected to speak on challenges facing the globe, including food, fertiliser and energy security.

He is expected to hold bilateral meetings with some of the world leaders attending the Hiroshima G7 Summit.

The G-7 bloc comprises Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada and Italy, as well as the European Union.