ASEAN Summit: PM Modi met Japan's new Prime Minister Ishiba, discussed cooperation in various fields

PM Narendra Modi met Japan's new PM Shigeru Ishiba in Laos on Thursday. This is the first meeting of the two leaders. Both leaders have arrived in Laos to participate in the annual meeting of ASEAN. Japan is an integral strategic partner of India and PM Modi has consistently had good relations with its top leaders.

PM Modi congratulated Ishiba on becoming the new Prime Minister and wished Japan to reach new heights under his leadership. PM Modi also gave the message that India will continue to give top priority to its strategic relations with Japan.

Both the leaders expressed their commitment to further strengthen the special strategic relations established between India and Japan and to work more closely in areas like trade and investment, defense and security, and semiconductors.

PM Modi and Ishiba reiterated that relations between India and Japan are important for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the two Prime Ministers also discussed the upcoming India-Japan summit.

We are peace-loving nations, we give importance to unity and integrity', PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Laos on Thursday to participate in the ASEAN-India and East Asia Summit. PM Modi said that when many parts of the world are facing conflict and tension, India-ASEAN friendship is very important at such a time.

PM Narendra Modi said that we are a peace-loving nation. We give importance to the unity and integrity of nations. We are committed to providing a bright future to our youth.

Scholarship benefits to students

PM Modi said that a people-centric approach is the basis of our development partnership. More than 300 ASEAN students have benefited from scholarships at Nalanda University. A network of Universities has been launched. Work has been done for shared heritage and conservation in Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Indonesia.

Guard of Honour to PM Modi

Sharing details of PM Modi's Laos visit, Jaiswal said that Laos Home Minister Vilayvong Boudakham welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his arrival. PM Modi was also given a formal guard of honour.