India, Japan sign pacts on AI, metals and energy after Modi-Takaichi talks

India and Japan agreed on Thursday to boost cooperation in artificial intelligence, metals, energy and defence as well as prepare a joint roadmap for economic security, as the Asian nations sought to further strengthen their ties.

The agreements were ​signed after talks between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi, who is on ​a three-day visit to New Delhi.

"Japan and India will leverage each other's strengths to ⁠grow strong and prosperous together," Takaichi told reporters after the talks. "Amid a turbulent international landscape, ​building such a mutually complementary cooperative relationship has become increasingly important."

Her visit follows a trip by Modi ​to Tokyo last year, when Japan pledged to more than double its investment in India to more than $61 billion over the next decade, highlighting deepening economic ties.

Bilateral trade between the two countries reached $27.5 billion in fiscal year 2025/26, ​while Japanese investment in India was $3.2 billion between April and December 2025, according to Indian government ​data.

First defence co-development pact

The two leaders held "wide-ranging talks on the full spectrum of India-Japan ties, including trade and investment, ‌economic ⁠security, energy, emerging technologies, defence and people-to-people exchanges", the Indian foreign ministry said.

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Both sides adopted three "landmark" documents on economic security, energy resilience and AI, it added.

"The convergence of Japan's precision technology and India's software capabilities will give a new momentum and strength to global AI development," Modi told reporters.

Neither prime ​minister took questions.

Modi said ​the two countries, which are ⁠also members of the Quad grouping, signed an agreement on their first co-development project in the defence sector. Australia and the US are the other two members ​of the Quad grouping, which is widely seen as a bloc formed ​to counter ⁠China's rising influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

Japan is among India's largest investors, backing major infrastructure projects including a high-speed rail corridor between the cities of Mumbai and Ahmedabad. Japanese firms have also increased investments in ⁠Indian companies, ​including a recent $1.6 billion deal for a 20% stake ​in Yes Bank.

Takaichi is accompanied by a large business delegation and is due to speak at a business conference later on ​Thursday.