PM Modi speaks to Japan's new PM Yoshihide Suga, discusses plans to further strengthen bilateral relationship

ew Delhi [India], September 25 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday had a phone call with Japanese counterpart Yoshihide Suga and congratulated him on his appointment as Prime Minister of Japan and wished him success in achieving his goals.
According to a statement from Prime Minister's Office, the two leaders agreed that the India-Japan Special Strategic and the global partnership has made great advances over the last few years and expressed their intention to further strengthen this relationship based upon mutual trust and shared values.
The two leaders concurred that the partnership between the two countries is even more relevant in today's times given the global challenges, including that of the COVID-19 pandemic. They emphasised that the economic architecture of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region must be premised on resilient supply chains and in this context welcomed cooperation between India, Japan and other like-minded countries.
The two leaders appreciated the progress made in the economic partnership between the two countries, and welcomed the finalisation of the text of the agreement pertaining to specialised skilled workers.
Prime Minister Modi extended an invitation to Prime Minister Suga to visit India for the Annual Bilateral Summit, after the improvement of the situation caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic. (ANI)