How the relationship between India and Japan may contribute to global peace and prosperity

Contact Counsellor

Last Updated18/01/2022

The year 2022 marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and India.
Formal relations between Japan and India began in 1952.
Connection between the two countries has evolved into a ""Special Strategic and Global Partnership"" after 70 years of multi-layered exchanges.

Instead of signing the multilateral San Francisco Peace Treaty after WWII, India chose to sign a bilateral peace treaty with Japan, believing that Japan's reintegration into the international community required honour and equality.
Even before diplomatic connections were established, the two countries' citizens had developed a strong bond through business, academic, and cultural interactions.
Both countries have a long and rich history of people to people exchanges dating back to sixth century.
Buddhism was introduced to Japan, and in 752, the Great Buddha Statue at Todai-ji, one of Japan's most prominent temples, was consecrated by an Indian monk named Bodhisena.
In late 19th century, India provided natural resources to Japan to modernise its economy during Meiji restoration.
An interaction between the Nobel Laureate in literature, Rabindranath Tagore and Okakura Tenshin, a Japanese philosopher.
When India hosted the first Asian Games in New Delhi in 1951, Japanese athletes were invited.

Collaboration between both countries is built on mutual respect for each other's contributions to peace, stability, and development in Asia and beyond.
Both see each other as natural allies in their efforts to achieve a ""Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)"" and other global interests.
Japan has been India's largest source of ODA (Official Development Assistance). The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project is one of the most recent and ongoing examples of our collaboration.
Literature, movies, music, sports, and academic interactions have all become important in the bilateral relationship.

Both are democratic Asian countries that can work together to promote world peace and prosperity.
Even during the epidemic, both can enhance collaboration by utilising digital technology as a facilitator of new and innovative ways to communicate with one another.