PM Modi Announces ISRO-JAXA Collaboration For Upcoming Chandrayaan-5

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced that the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Japan's space agency, JAXA, will jointly collaborate on the Chandrayaan-5 mission.

Welcoming the partnership, Modi said, "We welcome the collaboration between ISRO and JAXA for the Chandrayaan-5 mission. Our active participation has gone beyond the limits of Earth and will stand as a symbol of mankind's progress in space."

The announcement came during a joint press briefing in Tokyo after Modi's talks with his Japanese counterpart, Shigeru Ishiba. Modi highlighted that strong democracies like India and Japan are natural partners in building a better future. "We agree that as the two largest economies of the world and living democracies, our partnership is essential not just for our two nations but also for global peace and security," he said, describing the discussions with Ishiba as "productive" and "purposeful."

A joint statement issued by both leaders emphasized enhancing economic and security cooperation between the two countries. Modi added that India and Japan had laid the groundwork for a new chapter in their "special strategic and global partnership" and unveiled a roadmap for the next decade.

"At the center of our vision lie investment, innovation, economic security, environment, technology, health, mobility, and people-to-people exchanges," Modi said. He also announced that Japan will invest 10 trillion yen in India over the next ten years, with a special focus on strengthening ties between small and medium enterprises and startups.

The Prime Minister further highlighted cooperation in high technology, particularly in semiconductors and rare earth minerals. Both nations will also advance their collaboration through Digital Partnership 2.0 and a new AI Cooperation Initiative.