PM Modi and Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba Share Bullet Train Ride, Strengthen Bilateral Ties

Tokyo: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday experienced Japan’s high-speed rail technology alongside his Japanese counterpart Shigeru Ishiba. The two leaders boarded the iconic bullet train to Sendai, where they interacted during the journey in the presence of senior officials.

The highlight of the ride was the observation of Japan’s next-generation ALFA-X train, with a detailed briefing given by the chairman of East Japan Railway Company (JR East). Both leaders expressed keen interest in the advanced technology and its future potential in mobility.

During his visit, PM Modi also met with Indian drivers undergoing specialized training in Japan to operate bullet trains, marking a significant step in India’s upcoming high-speed rail ambitions.

PM Modi reached Tokyo on Friday for his two-day visit, which included the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit. At the summit, India and Japan jointly unveiled a roadmap titled “India-Japan Joint Vision for the Next Decade: Eight Directions to Steer the Special Strategic and Global Partnership.”

This vision focuses on cooperation in next-generation economic partnership, technology and innovation, ecological sustainability, mobility, healthcare, and people-to-people ties, ensuring deeper collaboration between the two nations.

Following his engagements in Japan, PM Modi will travel to Tianjin, China, to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit. On the sidelines of the summit, he is expected to hold bilateral discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.