Chandrayaan, AI & Critical Minerals: Key Pacts Signed as India, Japan Ink 10-Year Roadmap

India and Japan on Friday laid the groundwork for a new era of cooperation, signing a wide-ranging set of agreements spanning space exploration, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, and defence during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Tokyo. The pacts are part of a comprehensive 10-year roadmap designed to elevate the “special strategic and global partnership” between the two nations.

Following a summit meeting with his Japanese counterpart, Shigeru Ishiba, PM Modi declared that the two countries had laid a “strong foundation for a new and golden chapter” in their relationship. “Cooperation between India and Japan is crucial for global peace and stability,” he said, emphasizing that the new agreements will guide their collaboration for the next decade.

A highlight of the visit was the signing of an agreement between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for a joint lunar mission, Chandrayaan-5. The mission will focus on the joint exploration of the Moon’s south pole, deepening collaboration in advanced space technology.

In the technology sphere, the two nations launched the “India-Japan Digital Partnership 2.0” to enhance cooperation in emerging fields like AI, semiconductors, and digital public infrastructure. The initiative aims to foster joint research and development and create a shared pool of digital talent. To bolster economic security and reduce supply chain vulnerabilities, both countries also signed a crucial Memorandum of Cooperation on critical minerals, paving the way for joint exploration, investment, and stockpiling of resources essential for clean energy and advanced manufacturing.

Beyond these marquee deals, several other key agreements were formalized. A Joint Vision for the Next Decade was adopted, identifying eight priority areas, alongside a new Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation to create a fresh framework for defence collaboration. An ambitious action plan on human resource exchange was also adopted, aiming to facilitate the movement of 500,000 people, including 50,000 skilled Indian workers, to Japan within the next five years.