New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi met Japan's new PM Shigeru Ishiba in Laos on Thursday. This is the first meeting of the two leaders. Both leaders have arrived in Laos to participate in the annual meeting of ASEAN. Japan is an integral strategic partner country of India and PM Modi has consistently had good relations with the top leaders there.

PM Modi congratulated Ishiba on becoming the new Prime Minister and wished Japan to reach new heights under his leadership. PM Modi also gave the message that India will continue to give top priority to its strategic relations with Japan.

The two leaders expressed their commitment to further strengthen the special strategic relations between India and Japan and to work more closely in areas such as trade and investment, defence and security, semiconductors.

PM Modi and Ishiba reiterated that relations between India and Japan are important for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the upcoming India-Japan summit was also discussed between the two Prime Ministers.

We are a peace loving country, we give importance to unity and integrity: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Laos on Thursday to attend the ASEAN-India and East Asia Summit. PM Modi said that at a time when many parts of the world are facing conflict and tension, India-ASEAN friendship is very important.

PM Narendra Modi said that we are a peace-loving nation. We value the unity and integrity of nations. We are committed to providing a bright future to our youth.

Benefits of scholarship to students

PM Modi said that people-centric approach is the basis of our development partnership. More than 300 ASEAN students have benefited from scholarship in Nalanda University. Network of Universities has been launched. Work has been done for shared heritage and conservation in Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Indonesia.

Guard of honour to PM Modi

Sharing details of PM Modi's visit to Laos, Jaiswal said that Laos Home Minister Vilayvong Boudakham welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi upon his arrival. PM Modi was also given a formal guard of honour.