India and Japan to jointly launch Chandrayaan’s LUPEX mission, boosting bilateral space ties and strategic partnership.
Tokyo
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Tokyo, held extensive discussions with his Japanese counterpart Shigeru Ishiba and addressed a joint press briefing. Modi said India and Japan would join hands in the LUPEX mission, which will explore permanently shadowed regions at the lunar South Pole. He noted that such cooperation would not only boost space exploration but also deepen scientific understanding.
“Cooperation between India and Japan is crucial for global peace and stability. Today, we have laid a strong foundation for a new and golden chapter in our Special Strategic and Global Partnership. We have created a roadmap for cooperation for the next decade,” Modi said.
Earlier, while addressing the India-Japan Economic Forum, Modi pitched India as an investment hub and said the world was not just watching but counting on New Delhi. He also set a target of 10 trillion yen investment from Japan into India over the next decade, with a focus on innovation, economic security, environment, technology and healthcare.
The talks between the two leaders also focused on defence, maritime security, artificial intelligence, and semiconductors. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific.
Modi’s Japan visit concludes on August 30. From there, he will travel to Tianjin, China, to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit on August 31, where he is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping.