On the eve of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s visit to India, Professor C. Raj Kumar and Dr. Shashi Tharoor addressed a bipartisan gathering at the National Diet Building in Tokyo. The meeting coincided with the India-Japan Annual Summit, emphasizing the importance of academic and parliamentary collaborations in enhancing bilateral relationships. The event, chaired by Fukushiro Nukaga, brought together Members of the National Diet from both houses, showcasing Japan’s commitment to strengthening ties with India across various sectors.
Asia’s evolving geopolitical landscape underscores the significance of long-term investments in education, research, and innovation for building strong international partnerships. Both India and Japan have a unique opportunity to deepen their relationship through academic collaborations, scientific cooperation, and knowledge partnerships. Professor Raj Kumar highlighted the role of universities in fostering enduring relationships between nations by facilitating student mobility, research collaborations, and intercultural understanding.
Reflecting on the historical ties between India and Japan, Shashi Tharoor emphasized the need to continually renew and strengthen the enduring friendship through institutional cooperation. He stressed that while governments create strategic partnerships, it is the people-to-people connections among students, scholars, and innovators that sustain these relationships. Members of the National Diet expressed admiration for India’s democratic values, economic progress, and global role, reaffirming their commitment to enhancing parliamentary exchanges and educational partnerships with India.
