On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a collaboration between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for the Chandrayaan-5 mission. He expressed enthusiasm for this partnership, stating, “We welcome the collaboration between ISRO and JAXA for the Chandrayaan-5 mission. Our active participation has transcended the boundaries of Earth and will serve as a symbol of humanity’s advancement in space.” This announcement was made during a joint briefing following discussions with his Japanese counterpart, Shigeru Ishiba, in Tokyo. During the briefing, Modi emphasized that robust democracies naturally align as partners in fostering a better world. He remarked, “We concur that as the two largest economies and functioning democracies, our collaboration is vital not only for our nations but also for global peace and security.
” Modi characterized the discussions with Ishiba as “productive” and “purposeful.” The joint statement issued by both Prime Ministers highlighted the importance of enhancing economic and security cooperation between India and Japan. The Prime Minister noted that India and Japan have laid the groundwork for a new chapter in their “special strategic and global partnership,” and he presented a roadmap for the upcoming decade. “At the heart of our vision are investment, innovation, economic security, environmental sustainability, technology, health, mobility, and people-to-people exchanges,” Modi stated. He further announced, “We have set a target of attracting 10 trillion yen from Japan to India over the next ten years,” emphasizing that particular attention would be given to connecting the small and medium enterprises and startups of both nations.
