August 20, 2025
4 mins read

‘Sky Not the Limit for India-Japan Ties’

Emphasising the civilisational ties between India and Japan, the Ambassador called the bilateral relationship a “quantum leap” in recent years…reports Asian Lite News

In an exclusive interview, India’s Ambassador to Japan, Sibi George, discussed the growing strength of India-Japan ties, shifts in the global order, and the role of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s diplomacy in elevating India’s global standing.

Emphasising the civilisational ties between India and Japan, the Ambassador called the bilateral relationship a “quantum leap” in recent years and said “sky is not even the limit” for the two nations’ partnership.

Here is the full interview:

Can India and Japan together form a formidable partnership in the new world order?

In 2014, India and Japan agreed to what we call a Special Strategic and Global Partnership. It has reinforced the civilisational connection that has existed between our two countries for centuries.

What we have seen since 2014 is steady progress in our relationship, encompassing multiple sectors: Political engagement, business partnerships, Defence and security cooperation, people-to-people connect, and science and technology engagement. You have seen this progress in every field over the last ten years. And now, in this evolving geopolitical and geoeconomic situation, we are continuing to deepen our engagement at every level in all of these areas.

India and Japan are like-minded countries, natural partners, and sky is not even the limit for our relationship. We are even cooperating in space exploration. There has been a significant, quantum leap in our relationship over the last few years, and this will continue.

We are looking at a new road map and vision for our relationship — one that takes it to new levels and encompasses all possible aspects. This includes cooperation between Indian states and Japanese prefectures. We strongly believe that Tokyo alone is not Japan — Japan is much bigger than Tokyo.

So, it is very important for us to engage with each and every prefecture of Japan, and that is what we have been doing in recent years and will continue to do. Similarly, we are connecting Japanese prefectures with Indian states, and we are receiving a very positive response from the Japanese side to this initiative.

How has PM Modi’s diplomacy helped India in adverse situations?

Over the last few years, we have seen how India has played a very important role in diplomacy. The best example is the G20 Summit which we hosted in 2023.

That summit was a significant success story for Indian diplomacy. At the same time, Japan was hosting the G7 Summit, and there was close coordination between the two countries. Prime Minister Modi visited Japan for the Hiroshima Summit, and you may recall that we unveiled a statue of Mahatma Gandhi at the Hiroshima Peace Park.

That statue has now become an icon of India’s presence in Hiroshima. Every visitor goes to see the Mahatma Gandhi statue, which symbolises India’s commitment to peace and non-violence, ideals that both Mahatma Gandhi and India represent.

The G20 Summit itself was an extraordinary event. We organised nearly 200 events across 50 cities in India, which meant that 200 Japanese delegations visited India during that period. Each of them returned with the message that they had seen a ‘New India.’ It was a proud moment, showcasing India’s transformation and diplomatic strength.

What was India’s biggest achievement during the G20?

One of the most important elements was the unanimous adoption of a vision document, which had not been possible before. We were able to bring all stakeholders together to agree on a document of hope for the world.

Moreover, we gave a platform to the Global South. Before the G20, India convened the Global South Summit, where we brought together the voices of developing nations to the G20 main table. A landmark achievement was getting Africa included as a permanent member of the G20, representing over a billion people.

India represents one-sixth of the world’s population, yet we are not one-sixth of the world’s problems — we bring solutions to the table. Whether it’s diplomacy, economy, or crisis management, India consistently brings solutions. A whopping 1.5 billion people living in peace, in a democracy, with the largest youth population in the world — this is the most important message India delivers today.

India and Japan flag.(photo:IN)

How has India’s relationship with other countries evolved under PM Modi’s leadership?

Our relationship with almost every country has progressed significantly. There is a new depth and substance in our diplomacy.

Let me give you an example from Japan, a key partner in our Special Strategic and Global Partnership. A major pillar of our relationship is the economic engagement. Today, there are 1,500 Japanese companies operating in India, and these are 1,500 success stories.

A recent survey by JETRO indicates that Japanese companies view India as their most preferred destination for expansion.

What makes the India-Japan economic story so compelling?

As an Ambassador, I always say every Ambassador is a salesman, and I am very proud to have a great product to present. The India–Japan success story is a product with immense attraction.

India is now the fourth-largest economy in the world. It offers billions of opportunities, and it is for Japan to fully harness them. This is key to addressing the geopolitical and geoeconomic challenges we all face today. And I am confident that we are moving in the right direction.

Previous Story

Stories That Teach Life

Next Story

PM Modi: India poised to lead next tech wave

Latest from -Top News

Pakistan Faces Backlash Over NGO, Media Attacks

Human rights groups criticised the Pakistani government for a “deeply irresponsible” smear campaign against media and NGOs….reports Asian Lite News Several human rights organisations and advocacy groups have criticised the Pakistani government

Afghanistan Offline: 72 Hours of Chaos

Afghanistan restores internet after three-day blackout; humanitarian aid, trade, and banking resume slowly, while UN warns repeated disruptions threaten recovery and livelihoods for millions of citizens. Internet and telecom services were partially

Over 1,000 lives lost in Pak floods

Pakistan’s floods kill over 1,000, hit agriculture and supply chains; economy shows resilience amid devastation, while Karachi experiences minor earthquake, raising fears in already-stricken areas. Pakistan continues to grapple with one of

Great Soybean Standoff

Trump’s planned meeting with Xi links soybean trade disputes to wider US-China tensions, as American military officials warn of growing threats from both Beijing and Pyongyang….reports Asian Lite News US President Donald
Go toTop

Don't Miss

‘Uthta Punjab’ from now on, not ‘Udta Punjab’: AAP

According to Election Commission, AAP is leading on 90 seats

US F-35 Lightning makes debut at Aero India

US F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team will impress crowds at