PM Modi leaves for Japan to attend second in-person Quad summit | What’s on agenda

 PM Modi is in Japan on Monday and Tuesday to attend the Quad summit and hold bilateral meetings with US President Biden, Japanese PM Kishida and Australian PM Albanese.

PM Narendra Modi arrives at Haneda airport in Tokyo on Monday for the Quad summit.

Geeta Mohan Poulomi Saha, India Today, New Delhi, May 22, 2022 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for Japan on Sunday evening to attend the second in-person Quad summit. The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, colloquially the Quad, is a strategic security dialogue between India, Australia, Japan, and the United States.

During his two-day visit, PM Modi will also hold bilateral meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, US President Joe Biden and newly elected Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

In a tweet on Sunday evening, PM Modi said, “This evening, I will be leaving for Japan to take part in the second in-person Quad Summit. The Quad leaders will once again have the opportunity to discuss the various Quad initiatives and other issues of mutual interest.”

This evening, I will be leaving for Japan to take part in the second in-person Quad Summit. The Quad leaders will once again have the opportunity to discuss the various Quad initiatives and other issues of mutual interest. https://t.co/xTSH2sTYI1

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 22, 2022

He added, “Just 2 months ago, in March, I had the honour of hosting [Japan] PM Kishida in India. I am confident this visit will enhance the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership. I will also be interacting with Japanese business leaders and the Indian community there.”

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi described the visit as one “to further the force for global good”.

QUAD SUMMIT

The Quad summit, the main event of PM Modi’s Japan visit, is aimed at bolstering cooperation among the member nations and discussing developments in the Indo-Pacific region.

The leaders of the four member nations will review the progress of various Quad initiatives.

"We will also exchange views about developments in the Indo-Pacific region and global issues of mutual interest," PM Modi said in an official statement ahead of the visit.

Significant security issues in the Indo-Pacific region are likely to come up at the Quad summit. All members share an interest in peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. The Biden-led US administration is invested in sending a message of deterrence with regard to Taiwan.

Sanjay Kumar Verma, Indian Ambassador to Japan, said, “Quad has a positive, constructive agenda so we don’t target a country or region for that. What we look forward to is that peace and stability in Indo-Pacific region should be adhered to.”

“We want to see that international laws are followed and that no country takes the route of coercive economic policy. So all these are in the basket but the prime motive of Quad meetings is to see peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” he added.

On the first day of his Japan visit, PM Modi will attend the launch of Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) by US President Biden. Taiwan will not attend the launch.

PM MODI’S ITINERARY

Here’s a detailed look at PM Modi’s itinerary during his two-day visit to Japan.

May 23

7.50 am (4.20 am IST) Arrival in Tokyo

8.30 am Welcome by Indian diaspora

2 pm onwards Meetings with business leaders including NEC Corporation chairman Nobuhiro Endo, UNIQLO CEO Tadashi Yanai, Suzuki Motor Corporation adviser Osamu Suzuki and Softbank Group Corp board director Masayoshi Son.

4.30 pm - Launch of Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) by US President Biden

5.30 pm - Roundtable with Japanese business leaders

7.30 pm Interaction with Indian community

May 24

10.18 am Quad leaders’ group photo

10.25 am Quad Summit

12.30 pm - Launch of Quad Fellowship

12.45 pm - Quad lunch hosted by Japanese PM Kishida

2.30 pm Bilateral meeting with US President Biden

4 pm Bilateral meeting with Australian PM Anthony Albanese

6.10 pm Bilateral meeting with Japanese PM Kishida