Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu Strengthens India-Japan Ties During Tokyo Visit

Strengthening Cultural and Economic Ties

Itanagar, Oct 23: Pema Khandu, the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, is currently visiting Japan on an official trip where he engaged in several high-profile discussions in Tokyo aimed at enhancing cultural, economic, and technological collaboration between India and Japan.

During a key meeting, Khandu met with Yasutoshi Nishimura, a member of Japan's House of Representatives and the Chairman of the Japan–India Parliamentary Friendship League. They explored strategies to bolster the India–Japan partnership and increase cultural exchanges.

“We talked about advancing the India–Japan partnership to further solidify our cultural connections and investigate development cooperation opportunities,” Khandu shared on X following their discussion.

Additionally, Khandu met Toshiaki Nishikawa, the Chairman and CEO of ASEAN Group Co. Ltd. Nishikawa expressed his dedication to increasing the presence of Indian professionals in Japan and emphasized ongoing collaborations with various Indian states to promote Japanese language education and skill enhancement.

“It’s encouraging to witness such initiatives that are fortifying the India–Japan partnership,” Khandu remarked, recognizing Japan’s proactive involvement in fostering India’s skilled workforce.

Khandu also participated in a luncheon with prominent Japanese figures, including Itsunori Onodera, Chair of the Policy Research Council, Yoshiaki Wada, a former House of Representatives member, and Rui Matsukawa, a member of the House of Councillors. Their discussions centered on strengthening bilateral relations and advancing cooperation in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for enhanced India–Japan ties.

“I am thankful for their warm hospitality and the insightful discussions aimed at furthering India–Japan relations in accordance with Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji’s vision during his recent visit to Japan,” Khandu noted in another post.

In another meeting, the Chief Minister engaged with officials from Sankyo Frontier Co. Ltd, a Japanese company specializing in modular and factory-built construction solutions. Khandu praised their innovative technology that facilitates rapid, all-weather construction in remote and high-altitude regions, suggesting that such models could revolutionize infrastructure development in Arunachal Pradesh and the broader Himalayan area.

“Innovative concepts like these can genuinely transform our construction methods in the Himalayas,” he stated.

Officials indicated that Khandu’s visit underscores a dedicated effort to foster collaboration in technology, infrastructure, and human resource development while strengthening cultural and strategic ties between Arunachal Pradesh and Japan.