GUWAHATI, June 8: Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is likely to visit Assam next month for summit talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, potentially making Guwahati the venue for one of the most significant diplomatic engagements ever hosted in the Northeast.
According to media reports, Takaichi is considering an official visit to India in early July as part of the annual India-Japan summit process. While an official announcement is yet to be made by either government, Guwahati has emerged as a likely host city for the proposed meeting.
In December 2019, then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was scheduled to visit Guwahati for the annual India-Japan summit with Narendra Modi. However, the summit was postponed amid widespread protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) across Assam and other parts of the Northeast.
If the visit materialises, it would be Takaichi’s first official trip to India since assuming office and would mark a major diplomatic milestone for Assam.
The proposed summit is expected to focus on strengthening cooperation in trade, investment, technology, infrastructure development and economic security, while also addressing regional developments in the Indo-Pacific, where India and Japan have emerged as key strategic partners.
The choice of Assam as a possible venue is being seen as a reflection of the growing importance of the Northeast in India’s Act East Policy, which seeks deeper economic and strategic engagement with East and Southeast Asian countries.
Over the past decade, Japan has become one of the most significant international partners in the Northeast, supporting infrastructure, connectivity and urban development projects across the region. In Assam, Japanese assistance has contributed to projects ranging from water supply systems to major road infrastructure initiatives.
Officials and observers believe that hosting an India-Japan summit in Guwahati would send a strong signal about the region’s rising profile in international diplomacy and investment.
Prime Minister Modi is expected to participate in the proposed summit, which could bring senior government officials and business leaders from both countries to Assam.
The visit, if confirmed, would come at a time when India and Japan are seeking to deepen cooperation in areas such as resilient supply chains, advanced manufacturing, clean energy and critical technologies amid shifting geopolitical dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region.
Government sources are expected to provide further details on the itinerary and schedule in the coming weeks.
