Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday warmly welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, addressing her as his "younger sister" during a joint
press statement — a gesture that drew a gracious and lighthearted response from the visiting leader. Opening his remarks, PM Modi said it was a pleasure to host Takaichi on her first visit to India. "Excellency and my younger sister, Prime Minister Takaichi… it gives me great pleasure to welcome you," PM Modi said. Responding in kind, Takaichi acknowledged the remark with a smile, saying that during their earlier meeting, the two leaders had agreed to develop their relationship in a spirit of "brother and sister."
#WATCH | Delhi: During press statement with Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "Excellency and my younger sister, Prime Minister Takaichi, delegates from both nations, and members of the media—Namaskar. It gives me great pleasure to welcome Prime… pic.twitter.com/O78kLVnptK
— ANI (@ANI) July 2, 2026
"First and foremost, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Modi and the people of India for your warm hospitality during my visit to your country. Prime Minister Modi, you called me your beautiful younger sister. During our smaller meeting before the main talks, we confirmed that we are on the same page and have developed our relationship as brother and sister. Japan and India must leverage our respective strengths to become stronger and more prosperous together..." Takaichi said.
India and Japan on Thursday unveiled a raft of landmark initiatives including an economic partnership framework, a defence pact to co-develop military hardware and steps to enhance energy ties to tackle oil shocks following summit talks.
The two sides also finalised a mobility framework to facilitate the required framework for cooperation in shipbuilding, aviation and logistics.
PM Modi and Takaichi also deliberated on the situation in Indo-Pacific, a region that has witnessed growing Chinese military muscle flexing.
Both Modi and Takaichi witnessed the exchange of key MoUs and agreements spanning economic security, clean energy, critical technologies and research and development.
The Japanese prime minister is on a three-day visit to India for the annual summit. PM Modi visited Japan for the 15th Annual Summit in Tokyo in August last year.
There has been an upswing in India-Japan ties. The two countries had elevated their relationship to a Special Strategic and Global Partnership in 2014 and the annual summit remains the flagship platform driving the strategic agenda of the partnership.
(With inputs from agencies)
