Sunday’s Sankei reported that Japan and India will sign a memorandum committing to greater bilateral cooperation for building resilient supply chains for semiconductors when Trade and Industry Minister Nishimura visits New Delhi beginning on Wednesday. The Japanese official also plans to launch a bilateral initiative in entrepreneurship in the tech and digital sectors with the aim of learning from India….Read more

Yomiuri wrote that LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Hagiuda paid a courtesy call on Laos Vice President Chitmany in Vientiane on Wednesday and agreed to deepen cooperation for people-to-people exchanges and Japanese investment in Laos. The Laotian politician voiced gratitude for Japan’s generous ODA programs. 

Nikkei and Yomiuri reported that LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Hagiuda, who is currently visiting Laos, met with Prime Minister Sonexay in Vientiane on Tuesday. Nikkei said Hagiuda expressed eagerness to urge Japanese firms in the manufacturing and service industries to invest in Laos. The two officials also reportedly exchanged views on strengthening supply chains and cooperating in the area of decarbonization. 

All national papers reported from New Delhi that visiting former Prime Minister Suga held talks with Indian Prime Minister Modi on Thursday and urged the Indian government to improve its tax system and transportation infrastructure facilities to enable Japanese businesses to step up their investment there. They also exchanged views on bilateral economic relations, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges. 

Nikkei and Sankei reported that former Prime Minister Suga visited on Wednesday a construction site for a high-speed train system that the Indian government is building in the western part of the country in partnership with Japanese companies. Nikkei said that accompanied by some 100 Japanese business leaders, the former premier is expected to hold talks with Prime Minister Modi today….Read more

Yomiuri reported on Tuesday that Foreign Minister Hayashi met with visiting Pakistani Foreign Minister Zardari in Tokyo on Monday. They reportedly agreed to promote Japan’s accepting Pakistani workers based on the Specified Skilled Workers system. The paper wrote that Hayashi said at a joint press conference that preparations are underway for the two nations to formally begin talks on conducting skills….Read more

All national dailies reported that former Prime Minister Suga is planning to visit India from July 4 through 7 for talks with Prime Minister Modi and other senior local officials. Some 100 business executives will accompany him on the trip and visit the construction site for a high-speed train system involving Japanese firms in the western part of the country.  

Close cooperation between the United States and India is essential to deter China’s growing military influence in the Indo-Pacific region. Hopefully, the two countries will further strengthen their relationship based on the defense cooperation agreed upon between the leaders.   U.S. President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met in Washington and released a joint statement incorporating the….Read more

TORU TAKAHASHI, Nikkei senior staff writer   TOKYO — The Japan-led development of a coastal economic corridor in Bangladesh, which includes a power plant, port and corporate parks, is in full swing as Japanese companies hope to enter the growing market of 170 million people.   A coal-fired power plant on the Bay of Bengal in Matarbari, 350 kilometers south….Read more

Yomiuri reported that Prime Minister Kishida responded positively to a proposal made by cross-party politicians yesterday that Japan host a summit with the presidents of five Central Asian nations in 2024. “I will instruct MOFA to arrange it without fail,” the premier said.